The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) and the Allen Parish District Attorney’s Office announced on March 30, 2022, the conviction of Ricky Thompson, age 72, of Pitkin.
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Thompson pled no contest to one count of theft over $25,000.
Thompson was arrested in 2018 on six counts of theft of property having a value of $25,000 or more in four different parishes. The LDAF Livestock Brand Commission investigators say the thefts occurred between August and October 2017.
Louisiana has eight public livestock markets where producers can sell their livestock. Investigators say four of the eight livestock markets were targeted by Thompson. Those sale barns are in Allen, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, and St. Landry parishes. The conviction comes from Allen parish.
As a result of his conviction, Mr. Thompson now faces a five-year prison term – suspended, three years of probation, significant fines, restitution, and no contact with Kinder Livestock Auction.
The restitution of $180,000 has been paid in full. The conviction allows Thompson to continue farming but will effectively prevent him from obtaining a permit to be a livestock dealer.
“We are happy to see justice served to Mr. Thompson’s victims and equally happy to have the means to keep him out of the sale barns in the future,†said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. “I’m proud of the Livestock Brand Commission team for staying the course and getting the felony conviction, and I’m appreciative of District Attorney Joe Green for getting us there.â€
A Shreveport woman was arrested on March 23 by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission Inspectors regarding an investigation involving livestock theft in Red River Parish.
Sixty-eight-year-old Vera R. Ary of Shreveport was arrested in Red River Parish on a warrant for theft of livestock. The arrest was a result of an investigation by the LDAF’s Livestock Brand Commission.
During the investigation, it was determined that Ary received two head of livestock and failed to render proper payment to a local livestock market as required by law. The alleged theft occurred on or about January 20, 2021.
“It’s unfortunate when we see this. The cattle producers are protected and receive their money from the local markets. However, the accused did not compensate the markets, and as a result, these businesses suffer the financial losses,†said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M.
“The law is specific when dealing with the purchase of livestock. The failure or refusal to pay for livestock acquired is a crime and a violation of the theft of livestock statute.â€
At this time, a bond amount has not been set, and the livestock has not been recovered.
A Texas man was arrested on Monday, March 28, by the Livestock Brand Commission Inspectors regarding an investigation involving theft of livestock in Allen Parish.
Thirty-three-year-old Saxon V. Beck of Muldoon, TX, was arrested in Allen Parish on a warrant for theft of livestock. The arrest was a result of an investigation by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF’s) Livestock Brand Commission.
During the investigation, it was determined that Beck received twenty-five (25) head of livestock on three occasions and failed to render proper payment to a local livestock market as required by law. The alleged theft occurred during the month of October 2021.
“The law is specific when dealing with the purchase of livestock. The failure or refusal to pay for livestock acquired is a crime and a violation of the theft of livestock statute,†said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M.
At this time, a bond amount has not been set, and the livestock has not been recovered. ■