NC deputies busted a large cockfighting ring, arresting six people and seizing a kilo of cocaine, sheriff’s officials said. Investigators found hundreds of cages filled with roosters.
Street View image from May 2025. © 2026 Google.
Deputies busted one of the largest cockfighting rings in Forsyth County history this week, arresting six people and seizing a kilo of cocaine, sheriff’s officials said.
Investigators found 400 roosters in cages at a home in the 7000 block of Baux Mountain Road in Winston-Salem, according to a sheriff’s office Facebook post.
Deputies responded to someone’s call to make an animal welfare check at the home on Wednesday and recovered 400 roosters, officials said.
A kilo of cocaine has an average street value of $28,000 to $30,000, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Deputies also seized guns and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Edward Thomas Marin, 29, of Winston-Salem, was arrested on felony charges of maintaining a dwelling, possession of cocaine, trafficking cocaine, weapon possession by a felon and cock fighting, and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession.
Arrested on felony cock fighting charges were Winston-Salem residents Joxin Trinidadvargas, 25, Filogonio Garcia Gonzalez, 71, Mike Allen Lopeznoyola, 25, and Jose Raul Cruzavila, 46, and a minor.
Officers urged anyone with information about the ring to call the sheriff’s office at 336-727-2112 or the Crimestoppers anonymous tips line at 336-727-2800 for English and 336-728-3904 for Spanish.
Joe Marusak
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