Contact Information: Contact: Demetra Canning 310-271-6096 x 27 campaigns@LCAnimal.org
Ex-Sheriff Sentenced to 19 Months in Prison, Reports LCA
| Source: Last Chance for Animals
HARRISONBURG, VA--(Marketwire - December 18, 2009) - Last Chance for Animals' (LCA) exclusive
undercover investigation of the Little Boxwood Cockfighting Pit in Stanley,
VA, provided the FBI with crucial information which led to ex-sheriff
Daniel W. Presgraves' guilty plea to racketeering on September 3, 2009.
Presgraves was sentenced today to 19 months in prison during a hearing in
U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg. Presgraves will pay a $1,000 fine, as
well as restitution to victims. He has already forfeited $75,000. Judge
Glen Conrad said Presgraves had lost his ability to harm the public by
being stripped of his duties as sheriff.
Presgraves addressed the court as well: "I violated the trust of the people
of Page County that they placed in me and I'm deeply sorry," said
Presgraves.
Presgraves was alleged to have taken bribes in exchange for his silence of
the cockfighting pit. By pleading guilty in September, Presgraves avoided
going to trial on 21 federal racketeering counts, which included: money
laundering, mail fraud, cockfighting-related conspiracy, and violating the
civil rights of female subordinates.
LCA's Special Investigative Unit (SIU) met with the USDA, FBI and the
Assistant U.S. Attorney in Roanoke, VA, and turned over all their pertinent
information on Little Boxwood. As a result of this investigation, the
Animal Fighting Venture Prohibition law (U.S. Code-Title 7, Chapter 54,
Section 2156) was used for the first time in U.S. history.
Pictures of dead chickens, a cockpit, and fight schedules were among the
evidence found at the Boxwood Pit, as well as a photo of a "Sheriff's
Association Cockfighting Handout."
In 2007, LCA's SIU's undercover investigation was responsible for one of
the largest cockfighting busts in U.S. history. LCA's SIU provided the
necessary information to the authorities, which led to a raid on a popular
cockfighting arena near Van Buren, AR and 76 felony arrests.
"We want to thank Tom Bondurant of the Western District of VA U.S.
Attorney's office, the Winchester resident agency of the FBI, the USDA OIG
office in Beltsville, MD, the IRS, and the state police who helped with the
raid," says Chris DeRose, President and founder of LCA. "This is a notice
to all public officials in the U.S. who turn a blind eye on animal
fighting."
Last Chance for Animals (LCA), a national animal rights organization based
in Los Angeles, has been active for more than two decades. Founded and led
by animal expert, author, and actor, Chris DeRose, LCA's roots began in
exposing the inherent cruelty of vivisection. LCA fights for the rights of
animals by conducting investigations that expose animal cruelty, launching
public awareness campaigns, pushing animal friendly legislation and helping
prosecute animal abusers. For more information, visit www.LCAnimal.org