Dorchester man among six charged with involvement with cockfighting

State Police report arresting six men in Worcester Sunday on animal-cruelty charges after finding live and skinned, dead chickens in their minivan.

State Police say the six were in a minivan on a journey from Queens, NY to Lawrence with the chickens and cockfighting-related equipment when a trooper pulled them over for "motor vehicle violations" around 5 a.m. on I-290 eastbound.

Troopers located a large black trash bag in a hidden compartment under the van’s floor. The bag contained what appeared to be several dead, skinned chickens. Four boxes in the rear of the Honda were also located; each contained a live chicken that had been subjected to procedures related to cockfighting, including having their lower bodies shaved and crests on their heads cut off. Also located in the vehicle was additional cash in the glove box, which, combined with the cash under the driver’s seat, totaled $4,500.

Also found was paraphernalia related to cockfighting, including razor blades, nail clippers, imitation spurs, wax and liquid tape used to secure the spurs to the chickens, lighters believed to be used to heat the wax, and a spray bottle with a clear liquid believed to be used to make chickens “slick” prior to fighting.

Jose M. Figueroa, 27, of Lower Mills, and the five other men were charged with animal cruelty, possession of fighting animals and conspiracy to commit a crime.

The live chickens had to be euthanized, State Police report.

Innocent, etc.