The verdict is in for Jorge Garcia, owner and operator of Rancho Garcia, an illegal slaughter farm in southern Florida. Jurors found Garcia guilty on two counts of animal cruelty with intent to kill and two counts of animal cruelty by not rendering the animals insensible to pain prior to slaughter. His sentencing will take place in 30 days, during which time he’ll remain in jail.
Rancho Garcia was one of three illegal slaughter operations raided last October by Palm Beach County law enforcement agencies and the Animal Recovery Mission (ARM). Video evidence collected by undercover ARM agents documented proof of inhumane animal handling and slaughter practices. The video was collected using cameras hidden in a watch, water bottle and a car alarm “clicker.” For further details of those atrocities, click here.
Defense Attorney Andrew Stine made repeated attempts to have the video evidence thrown out, but to no avail. Prosecutor Judith Arco was allowed to show the video in court, and the 6 jurors reportedly asked to view it a second time during deliberations.
Jorge Garcia’s employee, Rafael Ramirez, faces charges of illegally selling horsemeat and awaits trial.
For more information about ARM’s founder, Richard Couto, read here.
April 1, 2016 at 1:14 pm
This occured in France about a month ago in terms of this kind of discovery, but in France…the are “investiging” This man is yet another contribution from the Cuban Community….given this is Floridah….I suspect he will be given probation with a promise to be nice when he murders horses. Within 5 miles of my house on Maricamp Road next to the high school the same operation goes on….you drive by on Monday seeing 3 horses in the fenced pasture and Wednesday…they are gone. I have been there and saw in a big dumpster a horse head looking back at me among all the body parts…it took me weeks to get over what I saw.
April 1, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Have you reported what you saw to authorities? If not, contact local law enforcement or ARM through their website.
April 3, 2016 at 9:55 am
PHiL- if you are talking about Forest High School, that is Moses’ place. He is one of only 2 guys licensed in the county to pick up and render horses that have been euthanized. He is who the equine hospitals, veterinarians and clients call when a horse has been put down and the body needs disposed. Not all owners are able to bury their animals or have them cremated, so the bodies must be properly rendered to go to landfill. I believe some people actually drop their horses off to have them euthanized at his place so that is less expensive. It typically costs around $ 250 to have a horse’s body pick up at the farm
April 2, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Phil, Are you talking about Ocala? Please report to the authorities. Take photos, post on social media, alert the press!
April 2, 2016 at 10:22 pm
YES ….REPORT WHATEVER YOU SEE THAT DOES NOT LOOK RIGHT!!! GEEEZUS …THOSE HORSES & OTHER ANIMALS CAN’T RUN, CAN’T CALL FOR HELP!! WTH….WHO WALKS AWAY & JUST SHAKES THEIR HEAD?
DO SOMETHING FOR THESE VERY UNFORTUNATE HORSES THAT BY NO FAULT OF THEIRS ARE THEY OWNED/KILLED BY THESE SUB-HUMANS!
April 4, 2016 at 6:53 pm
God bless these guys for helping. I wouldn’t be strong enough . I want to throw up now. I pray he goes to hell. And his helpers.