7 Alabamians indicted on federal gambling, animal fighting charges in connection with cockfighting ring – AL.com

Seven Alabamians were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from an illegal cockfighting operation and bird breeding business in Chilton County, prosecutors announced Friday.

The defendants, all from Verbena in Chilton County, allegedly had a cockfighting arena with stadium seating that fits 150 people and had several rings to host cockfights, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The operation allegedly began in 2018, prosecutors claimed.

William Colon Big Jim Easterling, 75; Brent Colon Easterling, 37; Kassi Brook Easterling, 38; William Tyler Easterling, 29; George William Billy Easterling, 55; and Thomas Glyn Junior Williams, 33, were charged this week with one count of conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act and to operate an illegal gambling business since at least 2018, the DOJ said.

Those six defendants along with 23-year-old Amber Nicole Easterling were charged with operating an illegal gambling business.

All of the defendants were also charged with violations of the animal welfare act, while Tyler Easterling was additionally charged with violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for allegedly capturing and killing a great horned owl.

The Easterlings also operated three fighting bird breeding operations adjacent to each other, one owned and operated by Big Jim Easterling; one called L&L Gamefarm, owned and operated by Brent and Kassi Easterling; and one called Swift Creek Gamefarm, owned and operated by Billy and Tyler Easterling with help from Junior Williams.

At these operations, prosecutors said, the defendants bred birds for promising fighting traits, sold and shipped birds from their breeding operations to other people for purposes of cockfighting and producing more birds to fight, and promoted the fighting abilities of the birds they bred.

Brent and Kassi Easterling also promoted and sold cockfighting weapons from their breeding operation, the DOJ said.

At least one buyer allegedly paid $800 for one rooster, said prosecutors.

The defendants face up to five years in federal prison if convicted on the Animal Welfare Act violations and operating an illegal gambling business charges.

Tyler Easterling faces up to six months in prison if convicted of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

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7 Alabamians indicted on federal gambling, animal fighting charges in connection with cockfighting ring - AL.com