In a major breakthrough in the fight against animal cruelty, the Titus County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Timothy Thompson, a notorious figure in northeast Texas’s cockfighting underworld. The arrest came after an explosive undercover operation by Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), which documented a large-scale cockfighting derby held at Thompson’s property on the night of July 4th.
Investigators infiltrated the brutal event, held at a rural complex in Mount Pleasant, and gathered damning footage both inside the cockfighting pit and from drone surveillance. The videos showed birds outfitted with blades on their legs, forced into lethal battles within an enclosed arena. The July 4th event drew dozens of attendees, some of whom may also face charges, according to law enforcement officials.
This was not Thompson’s first run-in with the law. On March 15th, the same location hosted another massive derby attended by over 200 cockfighters. Deputies responded but did not enter the property after the gates were locked, and no arrests were made. This time, armed with in-pit video evidence provided by the investigators, the sheriff’s office secured a warrant and swiftly apprehended Thompson. He remains in custody, and further arrests are expected to be made.
“Even after we exposed his operation in March, Thompson kept hosting fights. He clearly thought he was above the law—but he’s not,” stated Steve Hindi, president of SHARK.
The weekend’s enforcement did not stop in Titus County. On July 5th, investigators also documented two cockfighting events in Kaufman County, presenting evidence, including videos, photos, and drone footage, to local authorities. The organizations have conducted similar operations across the so-called “cockfighting corridor,” targeting pits in Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Martin, and McIntosh County, Oklahoma.
In Oklahoma, investigators caught Anthony Devore and Blake Pearce, co-founders of the United States Gamefowl Commission, participating in illegal cockfighting events despite their public denials. Arrests have not yet been made, but demands for accountability are growing.
Animal Wellness Action, SHARK, and the Center for a Humane Economy are calling for passage of the bipartisan FIGHT Act (H.R. 3946/S. 1454), legislation aimed at strengthening federal enforcement against animal fighting. The bill is sponsored by Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE) and Andrea Salinas (D-OR) in the House, and Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) in the Senate. It is endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association and dozens of county sheriffs across the country, including many in Texas. The legislation is designed to dismantle the broader criminal networks behind cockfighting, which are frequently tied to illegal gambling, drug and weapons trafficking, money laundering, and cross-border crime. Advocates say the FIGHT Act is urgently needed to combat this dangerous and organized underground industry that routinely violates state and federal laws.
The public can help by contacting their U.S. Senators and Representatives and urging them to support the FIGHT Act. Every voice matters in the effort to end organized animal cruelty and hold offenders accountable under the law.
