Detectives and deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department arrested 52 men and four women and seized 3,500 birds, twelve firearms $259.000 in cash and significant amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine during a more than six-week long investigation into a massive cockfighting ring in San Bernardino County.
The operation, known as “Crowing Rooster,” lasted from June 14 to August 1. It involved the obtaining and serving 26 search warrants at separate locations that were tied to the individuals and activities involved, according to the department.
Of those arrested, ten were charged with felonies. The lion’s share, 48, are San Bernardino County residents, while eight lived in Riverside, Los Angeles or Ventura counties. They ranged in age from 16 to 73 years old.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Rural Crimes Task Force, consisting of deputies from Victor Valley Station Rural Crimes, Victor Valley Station, Twin Peaks Station, San Bernardino County Probation, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, and San Bernardino County Code Enforcement, conducted the operation from June 14, 2025, through August 1, 2025. In addition, San Bernardino County Animal Care Services, Hesperia Animal Control, Hesperia Code Enforcement, and Highland Code Enforcement assisted with the operation.
During the six-week period, investigators served 26 search warrants throughout the county, including 22 located in the 4000 block of N. F Street in San Bernardino; in the 10700 block of Larch Avenue in Bloomington; in the 2400 block of W. Ogden Street in Muscoy; in the 12500 block of Locust Avenue in Lucerne Valley; in the 3700 block of Francis Street in Chino; in the 3800 block of Francis Street in Chino; in the 2600 block of State Street in Muscoy; in the 14000 block of Caughlin Road in Phelan; in the 15000 block of Sequoia Avenue in Fontana; in the 15200 block of Lilac Street in Hesperia; in the 12000 block of Cactus Avenue in Bloomington; in the 59900 block of Phillipi Lane in Landers; in the 3200 block of Duffy Street in Muscoy; in the 2400 block of Dos Palmas Road in Phelan; in the 13000 block of Blanco Road in Phelan; in the 14000 block of Farmington Street in Hesperia; in the 10300 block of Eighth Avenue in Hesperia; in the 14400 block of Sheep Creek Road in Phelan; in the 10800 block of Beekley Road in Phelan; in the 25200 block of 4th Street in Highland; in the 2100 block of Mallory Street in Muscoy; and in the 7500 block of Begonia Road in Phelan.
The individual allegedly ran or were otherwise involved with cockfighting events out of a San Bernardino County residence that on occasion attracted crowds exceeding 100, including spectators and gamblers. Spectators and gamblers were charged $20 to park at a lot that was less than a mile from the property where the cockfights took place. They were shuttled to the backyard that had the cockfighting arena, where they were charged another cover fee to enter.
The investigators made a total of ten felony arrests on what were termed “serious” crimes. The other 46 subjects, including all three women, were arrested on misdemeanor charges. The crimes charged included animal cruelty. Some 3,500 cock fighting birds were liberated and placed into the care of San Bernardino County Animal Care Services. Additionally, investigators seized over $259,000.00 in U.S. currency, recovered 12 firearms, which included three ghost guns, and seized six grams of fentanyl with a street value of about $11,000, 12 ounces of cocaine and 11.5 ounces of methamphetamine.
Those arrested were Mark Garcia, age 39 of Yucaipa; Anthony Garcia, age 73 of Yucaipa; Julian Garcia, age 52 of San Bernardino; Horacio Garcia, age 72 of San Bernardino; Jose Rodriguez, age 31 of Riverside; Ramiro Medina, age 66 of San Bernardino; Telesforo Ladero, age 58 of San Bernardino; Darwin Geronimo, age 47 of Fontana; Braulio Hernandez, age 59 of Lucerne Valley; Jose Alvarez, age 56 of Chino; Juan Cardoza, age 41 of Chino; Humberto Hernandez, age 46 of Chino; Sergio Luquin, age 52 of Los Angeles; Carlos Rodas, age 58 of Chino; Jazmin Mercado, age 30 of Chino; Jose Velasquez, age 64 of Chino; Jose Hernandez, age 25 of San Bernardino; Fernando Cabrera, age 32 of San Bernardino; Carlos Guadalupe, age 32 of San Bernardino; Male Juvenile, age 16 of San Bernardino; Carlos Benites, age 64 of Phelan; Miguel Estrada Asquez age 36 of Fontana; Miguel Estrada, age 61 of Fontana; Antonio Garcia Mora, age 53 of Hesperia; Antonio Garcia, age 32 of Hesperia; Guadalupe Sanchez, age 73 of San Bernardino; Enrique Tamayo Campos, age 56 of Landers; Antonio Marquez, age 67 of San Bernardino; David Marquez Sanchez, age 40 of San Bernardino; Angel Sanchez Becerra, age 33 of San Bernardino; Francisco Hernandez Gutierrez, age 42 of San Bernardino; Jesus Solis Martinez, age 46 of Highland; Mayra Marquez Sanchez, age 36 of San Bernardino; Erick Virgen, age 22 of Rialto; Francisco Sandoval, age 59 of Coachella; Cesar Villegas Carbarin, age 47 of Riverside; Ernestor Reyes, age 31 of Hesperia; Jorge Garcia, age 64 of Long Beach; Alberto Aguayo, age 29 of Adelanto; Francisco Sanchez, age 49 of San Bernardino; Alejandro Uribe, age 69 of Camarillo; Jose Saucedo, age 56 of Los Angeles; Franco Marco Sanchez, age 43 of Jurupa Valley; Jesus Bugarin, age 34 of Phelan; Felipe Camacho, age 32 of Phelan; Gerardo Perez, age 60 of Hesperia; Jose Jimenez Leon, age 58 of Hesperia; Jorge Alcaraz Pineda, age 44 of Hesperia; Edyt Marquez, age of 48 of Hesperia; Felipe Camacho, age 32 of Phelan; Jose Solis Martinez, age 49 of Highland; Jorge Ordonez Hernandez, age 50 of San Bernardino; Efren Vargas Gomez, age 40 of San Bernardino; Efren Villanueva Hernandez, age 49 of Phelan; and Estefania Villanueva Mendoza, age 28 of Phelan.
The rural crimes task force focuses on crimes that are rural in nature to include but not limited to animal cruelty, the theft of copper, fuel, heavy equipment, large animals, fencing, and cargo.