Third Defendant Involved in Amarillo Cockfighting Ring Sentenced to Federal Prison

A third defendant involved in an Amarillo cockfighting ring was sentenced to nearly a year in federal prison last Friday, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.

Salvador Sanchez Chavez, 49, pled guilty in July 2025 to the federal offense of Attending an Animal Fighting Venture related to a February 10, 2024, cockfight at an Amarillo property.  He was sentenced on January 23, 2026, to 11 months in federal prison.

In February 2025, Chavez and two others, Ivan Herrera Lopez, 45, and Jaime Gamez Resendiz, 34, were indicted for their roles in the animal fighting venture after committing or conspiring to commit acts forbidden by the federal Animal Welfare Act.  Lopez pled guilty in July 2025 to Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture and was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and a $10,000 fine in late October 2025.  Resendiz pled guilty in July 2025 to Unlawful Use of Interstate Instrumentality for Promoting or Furthering an Animal Fighting Venture and was also sentenced in late October to eight months in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk sentenced each of the three defendants.

“Cockfighting is not a sport.  It is flat out cruel,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould.  “This prosecution and the sentences reflect the seriousness of the defendants’ crimes against animals.  Credit to our law enforcement partners for saving these animals before more harm could be done.”

“Savagely pitting defenseless animals against each other for sport, gambling or personal enjoyment is cruel and sadistic, and the illicit proceeds are often used to fuel other transnational criminal activity,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “Working alongside our state and local law enforcement partners and the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, we were able to dismantle the criminal organization responsible for operating this illegal gambling operation, hold the criminal illegal aliens who ran it accountable, and rescue the animals from certain death.”

According to court documents, deputies from the Potter County Sheriff’s Office responded to complaints of possible illegal activity taking place at a property in Amarillo on February 10, 2024.  When they arrived, they observed cockfighting, multiple dead roosters, over 160 live fighting roosters, metal blades or talons used to affix to the roosters’ feet for fighting, syringes and medications used to boost the roosters’ adrenaline before a fight, a marker board for documenting bets, and other items indicative of a cockfighting operation.

Court records reflect that Lopez owned the Amarillo property on which he hosted the February 2024 cockfighting derby.  He also bred, housed, fed, or sold roosters for the purpose of fighting.  Plea documents show that Chavez brought two roosters to Lopez’s property that day to fight, along with blades to be used for cockfighting.  Chavez also previously traveled to New Mexico for other cockfighting events and possessed and produced photographs of dead roosters, photos of steroids for animals, and videos of cockfighting on his phone.  Additionally, court records show that Resendiz owned a vehicle outfitted to transport roosters, transported roosters to the February event on Lopez’s property, and attended the event.  Messages on Lopez's phone included discussions between Lopez and Resendiz about cockfighting derby dates and locations dating back to 2022.

The roosters were all collected by Texas Game Wardens and members of the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Amarillo and taken for further care and evaluation.

All three defendants are Mexican nationals and entered the United States illegally.  As a result of their convictions, each of the defendants is subject to removal from the United States.

Homeland Security Investigations, Dallas Field Office (Amarillo Resident Agency), the Potter County Sheriff’s Office, Texas State Game Wardens, the Amarillo Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation along with support from the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Callie Woolam, Anna Marie Bell, and Joshua Frausto (fmr.) prosecuted the case.