It appears that at least four of the birds confiscated from an alleged illegal gambling operation may be euthanized, state officials said Monday.
So far 19 men have been arrested for their participation in the ring, in which birds — mostly saffron finches — were pitted against each other.
The men placed wagers on the matches, police said.
In all, police confiscated 150 birds Sunday. The fate of the other birds isn’t known, state authorities said.
The men were arrested on animal cruelty and gambling charges, police said.
Just how the gambling ring worked — and how police found out about it — isn’t known, as the search warrant police used to raid the house is sealed until Aug. 6.
Police said they served the warrant at the Ripton Road home of Jurames Goulart Sunday morning and found the group of men preparing for a match.
Police confiscated about $8,000 in the house.
Goulart was also charged with interfering with police because he allegedly hid in a locked room. Men from as far as New Jersey and Massachusetts were present in the garage of the home.
On Monday, one of the men — Gilson Goncalves, 31, of Danbury — was arraigned in Derby Superior Court. The others are waiting for their Aug. 10 court date.
Many of the men arrested speak Portuguese, and the court has secured a translator to be present on Aug. 10.
Gonclaves apparently entered the U.S. illegally from his home in Brazil and is wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
When Goncalves appeared in court Monday afternoon, his public defender said he had a wife and children, and was working for a contractor.
Goncalves was previously deported from the United States to his home in Brazil in December 2000. His public defender said he has a tax identification number now and pays taxes in the U.S.
Goncalves is being held in Bridgeport and will appear with the other men on Aug. 10.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture workers scrambled to learn as much as they could about the saffron finch, a species native to South America.
The incident is so unusual in the state that at first authorities identified the birds as canaries, which are also small yellow birds.
On Monday afternoon, the department corrected the identification.
“It’s new to all of us,” said Wayne Kasacek, the assistant director of the department’s bureau of regulation and inspection. “It appears to be a cultural thing in Brazil. We know very little of it.”
Kasacek said the birds are being housed in an animal facility, but wouldn’t disclose the location, saying the birds are worth a lot of money and the department feared the owners may try to get them back.
Some bird-selling Web sites listed a pair of saffron finches for $120. Those sites also warn of keeping male finches together, due to aggression – specifically during breeding seasons.
Kasacek said upon a cursory look, four of the birds had old fighting injuries.
“We’ve observed four or so that appear to have old injuries (to the eyes,)” said Kasacek. “We’re getting a closer look today.”
The rest are being held as evidence until the court gives further direction.
“We have the birds in our custody and we’re caring for them pending a disposition by the court,” Kasacek said.
Click here to read a previous story on the incident.
Here is a list of all the men arrested Sunday:
Rogerio DeCarvalho, 35, Rowan Street, Danbury
Geraldo Teixeira, 43, Schuyler Ave Kearny, N.J.
Ricardo Almeida, 29, Division Street, Danbury
Waldiney Almeida, 29, Plymouth Street Holbrook, Mass.
Auder Gontijo, 43, West Main Street, Marlborough, Mass.
Elito Goulart, 47, Parrot Avenue, Bridgeport
Getulio Serra, 62, Grand Street, Danbury
Sebastian Andrade, 37, Merrimack Street, Danbury
Lucas Dos Santos, 25, Pacific St Newark, N.J.
Odeci Dos Santos, 43, Sumo Village Ct Newark, N.J.
Gilson Goncalves, 31, Benford Avenue, Danbury
Nonato Raimundo, 51, Cottage Street, Danbury
Welson Sales, 38, Waverly Street, Framingham, Mass.
Celco Soares, 33, Pleasant Street, Marlborough, Mass.
Marcos Teles, 36, Barbara Street, Newark N.J.
Agostinho Gondinho, 35, Balmforth Avenue, Danbury
Massilon DePaula, 32, Great Pasture Road, Danbury
Welson Morais, 26, Claflin Street, Framingham, Mass.
Jurames Goulart, 42, 176 Ripton Road, Shelton
