A federal grand jury has charged several individuals in Alabama with conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act and operating an illegal gambling business, according to U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
The indictment was filed in the U.S. District Court against James Shawn Murphree, 48, Denny Gonzalez-Guzman, 30, Kasten Finis Murphree, 22, Kelby Shawn Murphree, 27, all from Blountsville, Alabama; and Kimberly Ann Evans, 48, from Hayden, Alabama. They are accused of organizing cockfighting events and running an illegal gambling operation.
Cockfighting involves roosters fighting each other under supervision until one is dead or refuses to continue. These fights often involve weapons attached to the roosters’ legs. The indictment states that these organized events allow spectators to gamble on outcomes while owners can profit through wagers or increased value of winning roosters.
Between March and June 2025, it is alleged that Evans and the Murphrees organized multiple cockfighting derbies in Blountsville where attendees paid $40 for entry while competitors paid between $700 and $1,000 per rooster entry fee. Derby winners received a share of the prize pool money.
The investigation was conducted by the Gulf of America Homeland Security Task Force along with various federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Hundscheid and Jonathan S. Cross are prosecuting this case.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America which aims to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
An indictment contains only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
