ABINGDON, VIRGINIA – In a shocking turn of events, five individuals, including Walter Dale Stumbo, 51, of Floyd County, Kentucky, and his family members, have been arrested and charged with conspiring to operate an illegal gambling enterprise and illegally conduct cock fights at the notorious Big Blue Sportsmen’s Club in McDowell, Kentucky.
The defendants, including Sonya Stumbo, 51, of Floyd County, Kentucky, Joshua Stumbo, 25, of Floyd County, Kentucky, Wesley Dean Robinson, 57, of Wise County, Virginia, and Jonathan Robinson, 33, of Wise County, Virginia, were arrested on Saturday morning in a joint federal/state multi-agency operation in Virginia and Kentucky.
According to a federal criminal complaint unsealed today in United States District Court in Abingdon, the defendants allegedly organized a comprehensive cock fighting derby at Big Blue, which included collecting "parking" fees from spectators, entrance fees from handlers, and offering for sale services such as antibiotics for fighting birds, a full-service restaurant for spectators, slot machines, and fighting gaffes for fighting cocks.
The complaint further alleges that on fight weekends at Big Blue, spectators and handlers traveled from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and Georgia. Entrance fees at Big Blue were allegedly $250 per entry, with approximately 100 total entries per derby.
The defendants were incarcerated after their arrests, but later released on bond. Walter Dale Stumbo and his family members appeared in federal district court in Abingdon today and were released on bond. They are scheduled to appear in federal district court in Abingdon tomorrow (Tuesday, May 6).
The charges against Walter Dale Stumbo and his co-defendants include conspiring to operate an illegal gambling enterprise (18 U.S.C. § 371) and conspiring to illegally conduct cock fights (18 U.S.C. § 48). If convicted, they face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer and Special Assistant United States Attorney Virginia and Assistant Attorney General Michelle Welch are prosecuting the federal case on behalf of the United States. The case is being investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Bureau of Law Enforcement, and the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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