ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A business owner is accused of being the ringleader in a cockfighting operation. Deputies said he was holding the fights at his truck repair shop on Zell Drive off South Orange Avenue.
Deputies said Aldo Parra was giving the animals vitamins and performance enhancing drugs to make them stronger and to heal faster.
"Hey Aldo, we're doing a story about the cockfighting," WFTV reporter Jeff Deal said to Parra.
Parra just walked away when WFTV tried to question him about the birds that Orange County Animal Services and the Sheriff's Agricultural Crime Unit found on his property.
Officials said they found 34 fighting roosters, a cockfighting ring, performance enhancing drugs and rooster weapons.
"They have spurs, different items to inflict the maximum damage to the other rooster," said Victor Payne of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said he even had super glue to repair the birds' injuries whenever they got hurt.
Investigators said the underground activity is very concerning because animals are being abused and often, gambling and other crimes come along with it.
"Some of these roosters are worth almost $10,000 because of their fighting blood. That they're known to be champions," Payne said.
Many of the birds had injuries, and had marks showing they're champion birds.
Animal services fined Parra $5,000 for animal neglect. Deputies arrested him on animal fighting charges.
"Do you think that's right what you did?" Deal asked Parra.
"No," he replied.
Animal services said this is something they've seen more often in recent years, and operations seem to be getting bigger.
"These do involve multiple animals suffering in these types of cases," said Kat Kennedy of Orange County Animal Services.
The 34 roosters had to be euthanized.
Parra is charged with 34 felonies, one for each rooster. He faces up to 5 years in prison for each count.
WFTV
