MIDVILLE, Ga. (AP) - State and federal officials have raided another major cockfighting ring in Georgia.
Federal officials say they found 178 people attending cockfights at an indoor arena near Midville on Saturday. All could face criminal charges related to animal fighting and gambling. U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine said agents seized nearly 800 roosters, tens of thousands of dollars in cash, guns and illegal drugs.
Midville is about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Macon.
The owner of the Midville property, 48-year-old William Scott, has been charged with the federal crime of sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in an animal fighting venture. Scott could be charged with other crimes.
An investigation that began in South Carolina led officers from a number of agencies to an arena that had already staged several cockfights this year, Christine said. Agents found a fighting ring, bleachers and a concession stand.
Also Monday, 38 individuals were indicted from a Dec. 14 raid on a cockfighting tournament near Lincolnton, near Augusta.