The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama (USAO-NDAL) has announced a federal grand jury has charged multiple defendants over their roles in an illegal cockfighting gambling ring out of Blount County.
US Attorney Prim F. Escalona stated on Monday that the feds have charged five individuals with running an illegal gambling business and conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act.
Homeland Security Investigations agents, Alabama state, and local law enforcement busted the ring last month, arresting 75 after a raid.
The five Alabama natives facing the music are James Shawn Murphree (48), Denny Gonzalez-Guzman (30), Kasten Finis Murphree (22), Kelby Shawn Murphree (27), and Kimberly Ann Evans (48). The DOJ’s indictment accuses the Murphree trio and Evans with conspiring to organize multiple “cockfighting derbies.”
last rooster standing would earn its handler a cut
According to a USAO-NDAL press release, those attending the fights would pay $40 to spectate. Competitors entering roosters allegedly paid between $700 and $1,000. The last rooster standing would earn its handler a cut of the prize pool.
According to the indictment, James Murphree allowed the derby competitors to use his 12 cockhouses at Blountsville Pit, which was built by Kasten and Kelby Murphree in 2024.
Evans allegedly collected the gate fees while Gonzalez-Guzman, who reportedly promoted and organized the cockfight derbies, received 10% of the proceeds for his efforts.
