Defendants Forfeit $100,000; Pay to Destroy Big Blue Cockfighting Venue
Abingdon, VIRGINIA - The 10,000 square-foot facility known as the Big Blue Sportsman’s Club in McDowell, Kentucky, which has hosted cockfights for more than 20 years, will be razed following the guilty pleas of the property’s two owners, Acting United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced.
Today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon, Shirley Ray Slone, 73, and Vernon Kelly Slone, 69, both of McDowell, Kentucky, each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to cause others to attend a cockfight. In addition, the pair forfeited $100,000 and agreed to pay for the complete destruction of the 10,000 square-foot facility known as the Big Blue Sportsman’s Club.
“For more than 20 years, the Big Blue Sportsman’s Club facilitated illegal cockfights, illegal gambling, and decades of cruel and inhuman animal abuse," Acting United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle said today. “Today’s convictions and the agreement to destroy the Big Blue facility put an end to the long-term criminal activity that took place on this property. I am grateful to the various law enforcement agencies who investigated this conspiracy."
“Today’s announcement is another real success out of our Animal Law Unit, which is doing important work to enforce our laws on animal welfare and animal fighting," said Attorney General Herring. “These laws not only protect animals themselves, but they also ensure the safety and strength of our communities, since animal fighting is often associated with other crimes like illegal drugs and alcohol, illegal gambling, and even things like domestic abuse, assaults, and illegal weapons. I’m proud of our office’s unrelenting work to hold those involved in Big Blue accountable and we will continue to send a strong message that these types of enterprises will not be tolerated."
According to evidence presented at previous hearings, Shirley and Vernon Slone owned the property in McDowell, Kentucky that housed the Big Blue Sportsman’s Club, a 5,000-member club that hosted cockfights for more than 20 years. The facility, a 10,000 square-foot building that featured arena-style seating, multiple fighting pits and a restaurant, was the site of a law enforcement raid in 2014. Federal charges relating to cockfighting, gambling and narcotics arose out of the investigation.
To date, nine individuals have been convicted for their roles in the cockfighting conspiracy run out of the Big Blue facility. Most recently, Russell D. Peaks, who raised fighting birds in Wise County, Virginia, and brought them to Big Blue to fight, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for allowing a minor to attend a cock fight, distribution of hydrocodone and conspiracy to facilitate cockfighting. Jimmy Crate Willis has pled guilty to conspiracy to sponsor an animal in a cockfight and will be sentenced on May 15, 2017.
In 2014, Walter Stumbo was sentenced to 18 months for his role in the Big Blue conspiracy, Joshua Stumbo and Sonya Stumbo were each sentenced to 10 months in federal prison for their roles in the conspiracy. Jonathan Robinson was sentenced to 12 months and one-day in federal prison and Wesley Robinson was sentenced to 6 months in prison.
In addition to forfeiting $100,000 and paying for the destruction of Big Blue, the Slones each face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. They are scheduled to be sentenced on June 8, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Abingdon.
Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer and Special Assistant United States Attorney/Virginia Assistant Attorney General Michelle Welch are prosecuting these cases on behalf of the United States. The case is being investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, the Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Bureau of Law Enforcement, and the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office. In addition, the following agencies assisted in the arrests or related proceedings: Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force; Virginia State Police Tactical Team; Southwest Virginia Regional Task Force; Botetourt County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office; Wise County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office and Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office; Virginia State Veterinarian’s Office; United States Homeland Security Investigations; Kentucky State Police; the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
