"Six headed to Lawrence face charges for cockfighting" by Aneri Pattani, Globe Correspondent January 20, 2015
Six men are facing animal cruelty charges after the discovery of dead and live chickens in their van led police to believe they were involved in cockfighting, State Police said.
The men were traveling from Queens, N.Y., to Lawrence when they were pulled over for motor vehicle violations on Route 290 in Worcester at about 5 a.m. on Sunday, State Police said in a statement.
After troopers noticed a large pile of loose cash under the driver’s seat, they searched the van. Inside, they discovered a black trash bag in a compartment under the van’s floor. It was filled with dead, skinned chickens, State Police said.
Troopers also found four boxes in the trunk, each with a live chicken. The chickens’ lower bodies had been shaved, and the crests on their heads were cut off — procedures consistent with cockfighting, police said.
More cash was discovered in the glove box. A total of $4,500 was found, police said.
Police also discovered various cockfighting paraphernalia, including razor blades, nail clippers, and imitation spurs.
All six were arrested on charges of cruelty to animals, possession of fighting animals, and conspiracy to commit a crime, police said. The driver, Richard Diaz, 30, of Lawrence, was also charged with speeding and committing a marked lanes violation.
The other five men were Yamil Maldonado, 28, of Lawrence; Jose Figueroa, 27, of Dorchester; Jose Vasquez, 34, of Lawrence; Helpis Rodriguez, 40, of Lawrence; and Damian Castillo, 34, of Nashua.
The live chickens were turned over to Worcester Animal Control, which determined that they had to be euthanized, police said.
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