A third individual involved in a cockfighting operation in Amarillo has been sentenced to federal prison, according to an announcement from United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Salvador Sanchez Chavez, 49, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to attending an animal fighting venture connected to a cockfight that took place on February 10, 2024. On January 23, 2026, he received a sentence of 11 months in federal prison.
Chavez was indicted alongside Ivan Herrera Lopez, 45, and Jaime Gamez Resendiz, 34, in February 2025 for their roles in violating the federal Animal Welfare Act. Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture and was sentenced in October 2025 to eight months in prison and fined $10,000. Resendiz also pleaded guilty and received an eight-month sentence. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk presided over the sentencing for all three defendants.
“Cockfighting is not a sport. It is flat out cruel,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This prosecution and the sentences reflect the seriousness of the defendants’ crimes against animals. Credit to our law enforcement partners for saving these animals before more harm could be done.”
“Savagely pitting defenseless animals against each other for sport, gambling or personal enjoyment is cruel and sadistic, and the illicit proceeds are often used to fuel other transnational criminal activity,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “Working alongside our state and local law enforcement partners and the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, we were able to dismantle the criminal organization responsible for operating this illegal gambling operation, hold the criminal illegal aliens who ran it accountable, and rescue the animals from certain death.”
According to court documents, Potter County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded on February 10, 2024, after receiving complaints about possible illegal activity at a property in Amarillo. Upon arrival they observed evidence of cockfighting including dead roosters, over 160 live fighting roosters, metal blades used as weapons attached to birds’ feet during fights, syringes with medications believed used on roosters before matches, betting documentation equipment such as marker boards, among other items associated with organized cockfighting.
Court records indicate that Lopez owned the property where he hosted the event and was involved in breeding and selling roosters intended for fighting purposes. Plea documents show Chavez brought two roosters equipped with blades for participation at this event; he had also previously traveled out-of-state for similar activities and possessed media related to cockfighting on his phone. Resendiz owned a vehicle designed for transporting roosters and helped bring birds to this event; communications between him and Lopez discussing derby dates dated back several years.
Texas Game Wardens along with members of Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center collected all surviving birds from the scene for care.
All three men are Mexican nationals who entered the United States illegally; following their convictions they are subject to removal proceedings.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations (Dallas Field Office), Potter County Sheriff’s Office, Texas State Game Wardens, Amarillo Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement with support from Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Callie Woolam, Anna Marie Bell and Joshua Frausto (former).
