A 70-year-old woman became the third person arrested as part of the federal investigation that uncovered a alleged massive cockfighting operation in southwest Miami-Dade, authorities reported.
The arrested individual, identified as Marcie Rochell Newmark, joins the two men detained in previous days in the same case, reported Telemundo 51.
Newmark's husband merely stated that "the case is in the hands of the justice system" and declined to give an interview to the television channel, as did the accused herself. The source did not specify the specific charges she is facing.
The investigation began in early October when FBI agents inspected a 10-acre property in the area known as Horse Country—near SW 123rd Avenue and SW 51st Street—regarding an entirely different matter and uncovered what appeared to be a large-scale illegal animal fighting operation.
The two intervened properties are adjacent, belong to the same owner, and one of them was rented. On both sites, investigators found thousands of roosters along with spurs, syringes, medications, and other items associated with cockfighting, as well as dogs, cats, goats, turtles, and birds that appeared to be in neglected conditions.
On October 9, the Miami-Dade Animal Services Department carried out the euthanasia of more than 3,100 roosters that, according to authorities, were used for fighting. This figure makes this operation the largest recorded in the county in terms of the number of animals involved.
The two previous arrests corresponded to Carlos Rafael Lezcano, 52 years old, detained on October 5 after attempting to escape by jumping a fence during the initial search, and Sergio Ruiz Osorio, 54 years old, captured on October 8 after detectives called the number on the sign "Los Laureles, Animal Sale" hanging on the property.
Lezcano faces four charges: animal cruelty with intent to injure or kill, tampering with physical evidence, possession and training of animals for fighting, and non-violent resistance to authority. Ruiz Osorio is charged with possession of animals for fighting and animal cruelty.
Neighbors in the area expressed their surprise at the findings. Some claimed they regularly visited the property to buy farm products, completely unaware of what was allegedly happening there.
The three accused must appear before the court to answer for the charges they face while the judicial process continues.
Under the Florida Statute 828.122, known as the Animal Fighting Act, cockfighting is classified as a third-degree felony, with penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000. The statute penalizes everything from breeding or training animals for fighting to simply attending as a spectator. At the federal level, the Animal Welfare Act can impose an additional five years in prison for those who organize or actively participate.
This case far exceeds previous operations in the area in scale. Last April, two men were arrested in the southwest of the county with between 500 and 600 roosters. In May 2025, authorities dismantled a cockfighting ring in Redland, with 42 arrests and nearly 40,000 dollars in cash confiscated.
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