Fraud investigation uncovers possible dog-fighting operation

Rockford, IL -- Federal officials investigating a fraud case Thursday stumbled upon what authorities believe is a dog-fighting operation on the western edge of Rockford.

At the end of the day, Winnebago County Animal Services seized 28 pit bulls, including 18 from a house in the 8100 block of West State Street.

Authorities, including U.S. Secret Service agents from Chicago, were at the home for about five hours Thursday morning. They say they also discovered more than 500 grams of marijuana and brass knuckles, and they opened an investigation into illegal animal breeding and fighting.

Officials found what they believe is a pit bull fighting ring in the basement, veterinary supplies and computer equipment containing information about the sale and purchase of animals.

Secret Service and Winnebago County sheriff's police arrested David Fisk, 39, Rodrigo Campos, 33, and Alejandro Campos-Rivera, 32.

Fisk was arrested on a federal warrant for conspiracy to commit credit-card fraud and identity theft. He was taken into federal custody. Campos of Palatine was arrested on Winnebago County charges of manufacturing and delivery of marijuana, and unlawful sale or use of a weapon. He is in the Winnebago County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Campos-Rivera of Streamwood was arrested on outstanding Ogle County charges of contempt and unlawful possession of marijuana. He is in the Ogle County Jail on $2,500 bond and an additional $446 full-cash bond. No charges have been filed in the dog investigation.

"We're going to follow this investigation where it takes us," said Winnebago County Animal Services Director Gary Longanecker. "We have a large amount of evidence that needs to be reviewed."

Longanecker said his investigation is separate from the federal fraud case and state drug and weapons charges. He estimates that the initial investigation will take one to two weeks to complete, then the case will be turned over to the Winnebago County state's attorney's office.

Longanecker said the 18 pit bulls taken from the home appear to be in good physical condition. Part of the investigation will include examining the animals for old wounds. Ownership of the animals has not been determined. The animals will be kept at the Winnebago County Animal Services shelter, pending the investigation.

Winnebago County Sheriff Chief Deputy Roger Costello said county deputies went to the home with Secret Service agents to assist in Fisk's arrest. Costello said Fisk consented to a search of the home. Costello said sheriff's deputies then took Campos and Campos-Rivera into custody and called Animal Services.

"We don't know the whole story there, but there was evidence that pit bulls may have been trained and sold there," Costello said. "The computers, which we took, showed breeding procedures."

According to a criminal indictment filed Tuesday in Rockford's federal court, Fisk allegedly gave a credit-card skimming device to a Darien gas station attendant who used the device to "capture" customers' credit-card information and gave the device back to Fisk. The indictment states that Fisk then took the information and made counterfeit credit cards and gift cards, and obtained money and goods from stores and banks. The indictment also alleges that Fisk took customer information from a Rochelle car dealership employee and applied for fictitious business credit-card accounts.

The crimes allegedly took place over a one-year period.

Animal Services took 10 other pit bulls into custody Thursday from other arrests throughout the Rockford area.

"We continue to assist area law enforcement in removing animals from areas where police action has taken place," Longanecker said. "Today has been a very busy day for law enforcement."

 

gosh...they still make those?:confused:

 

Secret Service? First Homeland Security hits Floyd now Secret Service hits these guys? Damn, they sure are taking dogfighting seriously these days! NOt a good time to be in the game I guess.

 

Hehe....someone broke into the Animal Control building and took 6 of the 18 dogs back.....

 

opened an investigation into illegal animal breeding and fighting

Hmmmmi understand about the fighting part of this sentence but illegal animal breeding i just don't get it

 

breeding isn't illegal, but breeding with the sole purpose to fight those offspring is in many cases

 

What really gets me is you hear crap like this all the time - people are under investigation for some other (or multiple) illegal activity and then the dogs get drug into it! Why the heck can't APBT owners just stay the heck outta trouble?!?! And if they want to keep doing the other crap - then leave the dogs out of it!!!

 

Ummm...yea - this is really relavent...goodness forbid someone should actually have a goal in their breeding practices, and *gasp* keep records of it. *Sigh* this crap really irks me...

 

Secret Service is in it because they weren't looking for the dogs, the dogs were a bonus to them, the fed. govt. is involved because of the credit card fraud and such.
BB

 

no scared up or wounded, not even a malnourished dog there, just breeding instructions, they are going to try and find any old wounds?they're just trying to bury these guys and then say that only criminals have pit bulls. schmucks(is that spelled right, i went to public school)