Yellowhammer Times

A federal grand jury has charged several individuals in Alabama for their involvement in a cockfighting and illegal gambling operation. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

The indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court, names James Shawn Murphree, Denny Gonzalez-Guzman, Kasten Finis Murphree, Kelby Shawn Murphree, and Kimberly Ann Evans as defendants. They are accused of conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act and running an illegal gambling business.

According to the indictment, cockfighting involves roosters fighting under supervision until one is dead or refuses to continue. These events are organized in arenas known as "pits," where spectators can gamble on outcomes. The owners of winning roosters benefit financially through wagers or increased value of their birds.

The charges allege that between March and June 2025, Kimberly Evans and others organized multiple cockfighting derbies in Blountsville, Alabama. Spectators paid $40 for entry while competitors paid fees ranging from $700 to $1,000 to enter their roosters into these events.

The investigation was conducted by the Gulf of America Homeland Security Task Force with assistance from various federal agencies including the USDA Office of Inspector General and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Hundscheid and Jonathan S. Cross will prosecute the case.

This case falls under Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.

It is important to note that an indictment only contains charges; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.