STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) said deputies uncovered an illegal cockfighting ring earlier this month.

On Nov. 7 at around 10 a.m., deputies “took flight” to execute a search warrant on a home in Norman Road for a report of stolen property. They had also received a tip about the same address hosting cockfighting events, SCSO said in a Facebook post.

During the first search, many chickens were found. From there, “a plan was hatched” to obtain a second search warrant for the cockfighting allegations.

Upon the second search warrant, deputies rescued 80 Game Fowl chickens along with controlled substances, equipment and weapons used for cockfighting.

On Tuesday morning, a seizure hearing granted Animal Control custody of the chickens. They were taken to the Stafford County Animal Shelter and are all scheduled to see a vet while the shelter looks for long-term care for their future.

Sergio Munoz, 47, of Stafford, was taken into custody and charged with five counts of felony animal fighting.

Munoz is being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $1,000 secured bond.

SCSO said he was not the “subject in question for the original search warrant.”