Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, released the following statement in response to the first guilty verdict in the trial of an animal fighter under the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act:

"Charles Kingrea, a Virginia man, was convicted on three counts pertaining to his involvement in a cockfighting operation that included the sale of sharp implements that are affixed to the heels of roosters. We congratulate the United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, John Brownlee, for being the first to win a conviction before a jury under the federal law pertaining to animal fighting that was upgraded in 2007. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bondurant tried the case and deserves praise for his handling of this matter. Virginia has become a model for states seeking to end organized animal fights from taking place within their borders.

"The upgraded law included a new prohibition on transporting the sharp implements that are used as weapons in cockfights. Just two days after it took effect, the U.S. Attorney ordered a raid on a cockfighting pit called Little Boxwood, demonstrating that Virginia will simply not be a refuge for anyone involved in animal fighting.

"The U.S. Attorneys are dedicated to eradicating organized animal fighting, and the illicit vices that go hand in hand with these crimes. Today’s successful conviction of Charles Kingrea came as a result of the diligence of U.S. Attorney John Brownlee and his staff. "

Timeline:

May 2007 — President Bush signs the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, which upgrades the interstate transport of an animal for an animal fighting venture from a misdemeanor to a felony.

August 2007 — The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia wins convictions of Michael Vick and all of his co-defendants under an older version of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act.

January – March 2008 — Attorney General Robert McDonnell leads an effort to make cockfighting a felony under Virginia law.

May 2008 — Congress overrides President Bush's veto of the Farm bill. The Farm bill contains a further upgrade of the federal law against animal fighting, increasing penalties, banning possession or training of fighting animals, and allowing for prosecution of animal fighting crimes if there is any evidence of interstate commerce.