As you may recall, SHARK's work on cockfights in Kentucky resulted in a full-blown bust by federal agents and Kentucky State Police at a cockfight near Whitesburg, Kentucky. There were lots of various law enforcement vehicles, 100+ law enforcement officers and a helicopter - a full-blown federal bust. See video shot by a local here. 

           Various law enforcement vehicles in the parking lot

SHARK has been aware of the Whitesburg pit for months, and actually took undercover footage inside the pit. This footage showed children as both attendees and working within the criminal operation! 

Mountain Top Media covered the subsequent 17 indictments. Two of the indictments, filed in London, detail cockfighting activities in Pike, Clay and Laurel counties, and accuse several law enforcement officers of taking part, read below:

Cockfighting crackdown sees 17 charged in four federal indictments

Here's coverage by WYMT Mountain News, read below:

Two men plead guilty to federal cockfighting charges

Rickie D. Johnson, 55, was charged with conspiring to operate the pit with his daughter, Jacklyn R. Johnson, 30, (SHARK has exposed Jacklyn, see here.) a former court bailiff for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. Johnson pleaded guilty in early May to conspiring to operate the Bald Rock Chicken Pit in Laurel County. The charge could bring up to five years in prison. 

See Rickie D. Johnson Plea Agreement here.

Hiram B. Creech Jr., 47, was originally charged with possessing a rooster for the purpose of taking part in a cockfight. A citation said the bird had metal spurs when police arrived to the location he was fighting. Creech pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of causing someone under the age of 16 to attend the cockfight.

See Hiram B. Creech Plea Agreement here.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen! Special thanks to Last Chance for Animals and the Humane Farming Association for their support!

With your help, we will continue our efforts on the many issues we are working in addition to the cockfighting, rodeos, pigeon shoots, beagles raised for experimentation and many more.

We can't help the animals and save lives without you. Please donate here.