A violent prison gang is at the center of a federal bust in eastern Washington. At a news conference in Yakima on Thursday, agents announced 34 people from across the country are facing criminal conspiracy charges related to drugs, guns, money laundering, trying to kill witnesses and cockfighting. "Most people are not aware [cockfighting] even exists," said Kate Tsyrklevich of Heartwood Haven in Roy. "It's happening all the time. It's a huge industry and is very prevalent across the whole state." The Pierce County animal rescue was asked to help seize the birds involved in the cockfighting ring, saving about 60 of them from eastern Washington. READ MORE: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/pierce-county-animal-rescue-helps-after-federal-investigation-cockfighting-washington/281-0fa91283-b0ca-4808-bab6-9bc4887d564e