U.S. Attorney reminds public cockfighting illegal

Pointing out that law enforcement agencies in the Virgin Islands continue to receive reports of cockfighting matches taking place in the territory, U.S. Attorney Delia Smith is advising the public that such activities are illegal.

The Agricultural Improvement Act, which has been in effect since Dec. 20, 2019, prohibits animal fighting in the United States, including its territories, Smith said in a recent news release. Smith reminded cockfighting promoters that animal fighting is a felony that carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. Since 2002, federal law has prohibited any shipment of fighting birds to the territory from the mainland United States.

Smith further noted that “federal law prohibits a wide range of activities associated with animal fighting ventures, including knowingly sponsoring, exhibiting, or attending these events.” An animal fighting venture is one that involves a fight conducted or to be conducted between at least two animals for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment, Smith explained. The law further prohibits the selling, buying, training, transporting, shipping, delivering or receiving of animals for fighting, and the trafficking in knives or gaffs used on birds.