St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith has issued a reminder to the residents of the Virgin Islands that cockfighting is prohibited under federal law. The Agricultural Improvement Act (P.L. 115-334), effective since December 20, 2019, bans animal fighting across the United States and its Territories.

Smith emphasized that engaging in cockfighting is a felony offense with penalties of up to five years in prison. Since 2002, federal regulations have also forbidden the shipment of fighting birds from the mainland United States to the Territory. She stated, “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 involves fights between at least two animals for sport, wagering, or entertainment purposes. The legislation also bans selling, buying, training, transporting, shipping, delivering or receiving animals for fighting and trafficking in knives or gaffs used on birds.

Despite these prohibitions, local law enforcement continues to receive reports of ongoing cockfighting matches. Smith pointed out that prosecutions related to animal fighting often correlate with other criminal activities such as violent crime, firearms offenses and mail fraud. “Cockfighting is illegal and potentially dangerous. We must therefore continue our commitment to keeping our community safe,” she said.

Residents are encouraged to report any information about cockfighting or other animal fighting crimes by contacting the Federal Bureau of Investigations at (787) 754-6000 or the United States Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General hotline at (800) 424-9121 or online at https://www.usda.gov/oig/hotline.htm.