Mexican man accused in dairy farm abuse in US immigration custody

The Associated Press

5 years ago

In this Monday, Jan. 26, 2015 photo, cows walk to the milking parlor on the Fair Oaks Farms in ... — In this Monday, Jan. 26, 2015 photo, cows walk to the milking parlor on the Fair Oaks Farms in Fair Oaks, Ind. Retailers began pulling Fairlife products from their shelves Wednesday as police investigated alleged animal abuse after an animal rights group released graphic video showing workers kicking and throwing young calves at an Indiana dairy farm that’s a popular destination for school field trips. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

KENTLAND, Ind. — A man accused of abusing calves at an Indiana dairy farm that’s a popular agritourism destination is in federal immigration custody.

Newton County jail officers transferred 36-year-old Edgar Gardozo-Vasquez to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody on July 19 after he posted bond.

ICE spokeswoman Nicole Alberico tells the Journal & Courier that the Mexican national will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of accusations that he’s in the country illegally.

Gardozo-Vasquez is one of three former Fair Oaks Farms employees accused of abusing calves at the farm about 70 miles south of Chicago.

They were charged with felony torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal and misdemeanor animal cruelty after an animal rights group released undercover video showing calves being thrown, kicked and otherwise abused by workers.