Accused of Stealing $91K Worth of Texas Cattle, Louisiana Man Arrested Again

A Rapides Parish, Louisiana, man wanted for livestock theft in Texas has been arrested in Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF).

Justin G. Thompson of 127 Pilgrim Road, Hineston, La., was arrested on Sept. 3, 2019, by LDAF brand inspectors on three warrants from the state of Texas for theft of livestock in excess of $91,000. Thompson had been previously arrested in connection with a theft of cattle worth $1 million.

The warrants were a result of an investigation conducted by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, special rangers in Woods County, Texas.

“This is not the first time Justin Thompson has been in trouble with the law. He was previously arrested by our brand inspectors on similar charges,” Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M, said in a media release.

The LDAF received a request to assist the special rangers in locating Thompson on outstanding warrants. LDAF brand inspectors were assisted by the Louisiana State Police and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Department in locating him and making the arrest. Thompson was arrested by authorities off U.S. 190 west of Opelousas.

LDAF brand inspectors previously arrested Thompson and his parents, Ricky and Wanda Thompson, for felony theft of livestock in June 2018 in connection with stealing more than $1 million in livestock from four Louisiana livestock sale barns. At the time of that arrest, they faced criminal charges in Allen, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge and St. Landry parishes.

Thompson was out on bond in the Allen Parish case at the time of this most recent arrest. Bond will be set in Texas.

Source: LDAF

Topics Texas Fraud Louisiana Agribusiness