Pedro Gavino, Gun Trafficking and Animal Cruelty, California 2018

FRESNO, CA – Pedro Gavino, 27, of Orosi, has admitted to running a dangerous, dual-edged criminal operation: illegally peddling firearms and fueling the bloodsport of cockfighting. Gavino pleaded guilty today to selling guns without a license and conspiring to violate federal animal welfare laws, a case that exposes a disturbing intersection of gun trafficking and animal cruelty in California’s Central Valley.

Court documents reveal that between February 2017 and October 2018, Gavino acted as an unlicensed firearms dealer, brokering the sale of 28 guns at his Orosi ranch and various Selma gas stations. He successfully offloaded 24 of these weapons, including AR-15 style pistols and short-barreled rifles assembled from unfinished receivers – commonly known as “ghost guns” due to their lack of serial numbers and untraceability. This isn’t just about selling guns; it’s about arming individuals outside the legal system, circumventing background checks, and potentially putting deadly weapons into the hands of those who shouldn’t have them.

The illegal gun deals weren’t Gavino’s only vice. On February 14, 2018, during one of those transactions, he also sold two American Game Fowl – birds specifically bred for fighting – and six Mexican slashers, the razor-sharp knives strapped to roosters’ legs to inflict maximum damage during cockfights. Just over a month later, on April 15, 2018, Gavino and his father, Pedro Gavino-Robles, 62, brought five gamecocks to a massive cockfighting event held in an Orosi orchard, attracting an estimated 200 to 300 spectators. The event devolved into chaos when a dispute erupted after two of Gavino’s birds won, leading to gunshots and a panicked dispersal of the crowd.

A subsequent federal search of Gavino’s ranch on October 4, 2018, unearthed a veritable cockfighting operation: 128 gamecocks, 30 hens used for breeding, and a staggering 278 Mexican slashers. The scale of the operation suggests a long-running, profit-driven enterprise built on animal suffering and disregard for the law. The ATF and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General led the investigation, with support from the California Highway Patrol and the Fresno Police Department Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC).

Gavino now faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each offense. His sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. However, the final sentence will be determined by the court, taking into account sentencing guidelines and other factors. His father, Pedro Gavino-Robles, is still awaiting trial, currently scheduled for November 7, 2023, and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department of Justice recently strengthened PSN, focusing on building trust, supporting community organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement, and measuring results. While PSN aims to improve neighborhoods, the ugly reality uncovered in Orosi shows the deep-rooted criminal activity that continues to plague even seemingly quiet corners of California.

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