For Immediate Release: March 15, 2012
Contact: Marissa Patton, 512-469-0171
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – A Tennessee man turned himself in to Hopkins County authorities Thursday on livestock theft charges. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger Wayne Goodman led the investigation along with the help of Investigator Mike Whaley of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and Investigator Rick Bickford of the Nebraska Brand Commission.
Bert Edgar Smith IV, 40, of Lewisburg, Tenn., allegedly failed to pay Sulphur Springs Livestock Auction for 59 head of cattle, valued at more than $66,000, which he purchased at an auction in January and had shipped to a feed lot in Nebraska. David Fowler and Joe Don Pogue, co-owners of Sulphur Springs Livestock Auction in Sulphur Springs, Texas, reported the case to TSCRA in February when Smith stopped payment on his check.
According to Goodman, Herdo Feed Yard, the Nebraska feed lot where Smith tried to have the cattle shipped, refused his business and would not accept the cattle. Smith’s mother has since paid restitution for the stolen cattle and the owners of Sulphur Springs Livestock Auction have been fully compensated.
Smith was released from Hopkins County jail Thursday on a $10,000 bond.
TSCRA would like to thank the investigators and agencies involved in the investigation including Investigator Whaley of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Investigator Bickford of the Nebraska Brand Commission, Investigator Bob Johnson of the Marshall County, Tenn., Sheriff’s Office.
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TSCRA has 30 special rangers stationed strategically throughout Texas and Oklahoma who have in-depth knowledge of the cattle industry and are trained in all facets of law enforcement. All are commissioned as Special Rangers by the Texas Department of Public Safety and/or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
TSCRA is a 135 year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 15,000 beef cattle operations, ranching families and businesses as members. These members represent approximately 50,000 individuals directly involved in ranching and beef production who manage 4 million head of cattle on 76 million acres of range and pasture land primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, but throughout the Southwest.