The Department of Justice announced the arrest of 53-year-old RAYMOND NUÑEZ aka RAYMOND TARO NUÑEZ.
As stated in the agency’s press release, according to the criminal complaint, from at least December 2025 to February 2026, NUÑEZ “illegally exhibited, bred, and trained dogs for dog fighting at his home in Hacienda Heights.”
According to the criminal complaint obtained by Voice For Us, on December 19, 2025, a Special Agent with the FBI, conducted surveillance of NUÑEZ’s home in the 14000 block of Blue Sky Road (pictured).
On January 28, 2026 surveillance of NUÑEZ’s home was conducted by the FBI National Flight Operations Unit and upon reviewing the surveillance photographs, the Special Agent observed multiple dog kennel structures near one of the trees.
On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, federal agents executed a search warrant at NUÑEZ’s home.
The agents found a Pitbull who was chained to a cable which was secured to the ground in the yard. The complaints identified the furvictim as Nala (pictured). Nala was emaciated, had scars on her rear legs and was bleeding. A contractor who was assisting the U.S. Marshal in executing the search warrant commented that Nala’s scarring was indicative of dogfighting.
A plastic drum found in the yard was believed to be Nala’s shelter. According to the complaint, “Blood splatter was observed next to the large drum, on the drum, and on the wall adjacent to the yard where Nala was kept.”
A second Pitbull, identified as Nela, was found in a caged area. “There was also blood splatter inside and nearby Nela's caged area,” stated the complaint. In Nela’s caged area was a plastic drum that had blood smear over it. Nela had scars on her front legs and it was noted that this was a characteristic of dogfighting.
Inside NUÑEZ’s home officials found a female Pitbull type dog whom NUÑEZ identified as Lil-One and stated that she was Nala and Nela’s mother.
As the search continued, officials found and confiscated among other things: multiple dog treadmills, a rope with a scale for weighing dogs, a skin stapler and syringes, ten firearms in a safe in the master bedroom, an AK-47 style assault rifle, and a shotgun.
According to the complaint, NUÑEZ is not legally permitted to possess firearms due to his 1991 felony conviction in Los Angeles Superior Court for the unlawful taking of a vehicle.
NUÑEZ was arrested on March 4, 2026, and was charged with buying, delivering, and possessing animals for an animal fighting venture, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
If convicted, NUÑEZ could face a statutory maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Department of Justice and the criminal complaint obtained by Voice For Us. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.
In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.
Photos provided to Voice For Us by the Department of Justice.
For more animal cruelty stories, please click here. Thank you!
