On the outskirts of Cartagena far from the brightly coloured facades of the old city and the 500-year-old fortress walls overlooking the Caribbean a crowd of about 300 people erupted into a roar. Given Colombians' passion for football, it could have been the celebration of a goal. But the cheers followed the bloody climax of bout in a cockfighting ring whose white padded walls were now splattered with blood.
In February 2025, three individuals, including Chávez, were indicted for their roles in this animal-fighting venture, which violated the federal Animal Welfare Act. Alongside HSI, the case involved multiple agencies, including the Potter County Sheriff's Office, Texas State Game Wardens, the Amarillo Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which conducted the investigation, along with support from the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
