Salvador Sanchez Chavez, Attending an Animal Fighting Venture, Texas 2026

Amarillo cockfighting ring leads to 11-month prison sentence for Salvador Sanchez Chavez, one of three defendants involved in the operation.

A 49-year-old Salvador Sanchez Chavez, a Mexican national who entered the United States illegally, was sentenced to 11 months in federal prison last Friday for attending an animal fighting venture related to a February 10, 2024, cockfight at an Amarillo property.

Chavez, along with Ivan Herrera Lopez, 45, and Jaime Gamez Resendiz, 34, were indicted in February 2025 for their roles in the animal fighting venture. Lopez pled guilty to Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture and was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and a $10,000 fine in late October 2025. Resendiz pled guilty to Unlawful Use of Interstate Instrumentality for Promoting or Furthering an Animal Fighting Venture and was also sentenced to eight months in federal prison.

“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.”

The cockfighting operation was discovered by Potter County Sheriff’s Office deputies who responded to complaints of possible illegal activity taking place at a property in Amarillo on February 10, 2024. When they arrived, they observed cockfighting, multiple dead roosters, over 160 live fighting roosters, metal blades or talons used to affix to the roosters’ feet for fighting, syringes and medications used to boost the roosters’ adrenaline before a fight, a marker board for documenting bets, and other items indicative of a cockfighting operation.

Court records reflect that Lopez owned the Amarillo property on which he hosted the February 2024 cockfighting derby. He also bred, housed, fed, or sold roosters for the purpose of fighting. Plea documents show that Chavez brought two roosters to Lopez’s property that day to fight, along with blades to be used for cockfighting. Chavez also previously traveled to New Mexico for other cockfighting events and possessed and produced photographs of dead roosters, photos of steroids for animals, and videos of cockfighting on his phone.

Resendiz owned a vehicle outfitted to transport roosters, transported roosters to the February event on Lopez’s property, and attended the event. Messages on Lopez's phone included discussions between Lopez and Resendiz about cockfighting derby dates and locations dating back to 2022.

The roosters were all collected by Texas Game Wardens and members of the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Amarillo and taken for further care and evaluation.

Defendant Information:

Defendant: Salvador Sanchez Chavez

Criminal Charges: Attending an Animal Fighting Venture

City and State: Amarillo, Texas

Exact Date: February 10, 2024

Sentence or Outcome: 11 months in federal prison

Dollar Amounts: None

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/third-defendant-involved-amarillo-cockfighting-ring-sentenced-federal-prison