48 People Indicted for Involvement in Cockfighting Case
Thursday, March 13, 2025
MAYS LANDING, NJ – On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted 48 co-defendants in a case involving the illegal activity of animal cruelty and cockfighting.
An investigation undertaken by Det. Mark Kienzle of the Galloway Township Police Department found electronic invitations to an illegally organized cockfight event scheduled in March of 2024. With the cooperative efforts of the Galloway Township Police Department, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, and other law enforcement agencies, law enforcement was able to stop a cock fight that was taking place in an arena constructed specifically for the purpose of rooster fighting.
The defendants were arrested and charged with offenses including animal cruelty, mutilation of animals, witnessing/paying admission to attend an event involving animal fighting, gambling on animal fighting, possession of controlled dangerous substances, resisting arrest by flight. Dozens of roosters were seized, many of them with varying degrees of injury and mutilation. Additionally, four dogs were seized from the residence and a shed on the property where three of the canines were kept in deplorable conditions. One of the dogs required emergency, life-saving surgery.
The organizer of the event, Jose Madera, and one of the attendees, Roberto Soto, were not included in the Indictment as they have already resolved their criminal matter via Accusations in lieu of indictment.
The defendants indicted on February 26, 2025, include:
Stephanie Kaneshiro, 34, Galloway Township, NJ; Patricio Acosta, 66, Philadelphia, PA Josue Arroyo, 52, Vineland, NJ Arroyo Blanco, 41, Perth Amboy, NJ Juan Carrion, 46, Philadelphia, PA Guillermo Celada 64, Camden, NJ Joseph Cubi-Camacho; 27, Vineland, NJ Berdover Diaz, 46, Hammonton, NJ Peter Rios, 51, Lumberton, NJ Peter Rios, Jr.28, Blackwood, NJ Dominigo Duran-Montesino, 42, Camden, NJ Rudis Perez Perez, 46 Luis Fernandez-Tavarez, 37, North Bergen, NJ Yomery Richardo-Perez, 31, Camden, NJ Juan Pena-Duran, 34, Hamilton, NJ Bienvenid Polanco, 61, Tappen, NY Lolitha Glenn, 52, Greenwich, NJ Jason Gonzalez, 45, Warminster, PA Luiggi Jimenez-Diaz, 31, Trenton, NJ Rafael Hernandez, 70, Philadelphia, PA Jimmy Hadden, 51, Greenwich, NJ Guillermo Polanco, 69, Egg Harbor Township, NJ Walter Jones, 53, Vineland, NJ Anthony Lugo, 41, Vineland, NJ Luis Roman, 63, Trenton, NJ Pedro Rodriguez-Santiago, 49, Philadelphia, PA, Angel Ocasio, 41, Bridgeton, NJ.