1-800-242-7820 | Contact Us
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers
Navigation
  • Who We Are
    • Why Join TSCRA
    • Leadership
    • Staff
    • TSCRA FAQ
    • Allied Members
    • Newsroom
    • Sponsorship
    • Employment
  • What We Do
    • Theft & Law
    • Issues and Policy
    • Education
    • Young Cattle Raisers
    • Young Leadership Series
    • Cattle Raisers Insurance
    • The Cattleman Magazine
    • Cattle Raisers Trading Company
  • Events
  • Join
  • Renew

Hefty Sentences Handed Down in Agriculture Equipment Theft Case

HASKELL, Texas — Four members of a Texas theft ring were recently sentenced to a combined 61 years of jail time for their crimes. The sentences were handed down by presiding Judge Shane Hadaway in the 39th District Court in Haskell County. The convictions are the result of an investigation conducted by Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers (TSCRA) Special Ranger Scott Williamson.

In late August 2016, Williamson was notified that a John Deere tractor, valued at more than $150,000, had been stolen from a property south of Munday, Texas. The Haskell County Sheriff’s Department initiated the investigation, but quickly turned it over to Williamson after the tractor was found loaded on a semi-truck in Kendall County, west of San Antonio, Texas. Investigators believe the tractor was bound for Mexico where it would be sold on the black market. The primary suspect in the case, James Christopher Phillips, 38, of Munday, was arrested by Kendall County law enforcement officials on an unrelated outstanding warrant.

Special Ranger Williamson began a thorough investigation with the assistance of Special Rangers Michael Barr and Tommy Charbula. The ensuing investigation identified several accomplices and additional stolen equipment. In total, Williamson recovered and returned more than $273,000 in equipment to the rightful owners. That equipment included the 2012 John Deere tractor, a 2001 Peterbuilt semi-truck and three semitrailers.

Phillips’ coconspirators were identified as Ronnie Alan Phillips, 57, Roy Lee Mayes, 48 and Jonathan Levett Reagins, 38, all of Munday. All four were charged and subsequently plead guilty to engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony. James Phillips also plead guilty to tax evasion charges for using farm diesel in a commercial vehicle.

They were sentenced as follows: James Christopher Phillips, 29 years total, 19 years for engaging in organized criminal activity and 10 for tax evasion; Ronnie Alan Phillips, 12 years; Roy Lee Mayes, 12 years; Johnathan Levett Reagins, 8 years.

All four were remanded to the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to serve out their sentences.

“Crimes like this have a huge impact on our farmers and ranchers who rely on their equipment to make a living,” said Williamson. “I hope the severe sentences in this case will serve as a warning to anyone who is thinking about stealing from our hard-working agriculture producers.”

TSCRA would like to especially thank Haskell County District Attorney Mike Fouts for his outstanding support as well as District Judge Shane Hadaway for respecting the significance of crimes against agriculture producers. The cooperation of numerous state and local law enforcement agencies were vital to closing this case, and for their assistance TSCRA would also like to recognize the Haskell County Texas Sheriff’s Department, Kendall County Sheriff’s Department, Texas Comptroller Investigations Division, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Wardens, Knox County Sheriff’s Department and Munday Police Department.

###

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 140-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 17,500 beef cattle operations, ranching families and businesses as members. These members represent approximately 55,000 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.

July 28, 2017 / News Releases, Theft & Law

Share the Post

Related Posts

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Offers Free Cattlemen’s Field Day in Mount Pleasant
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Offers Free Cattlemen’s Field Day in Lamar County
Pasture Management Field Day held in Tillman County, Okla. This Week
TSCRA Special Ranger Organizes Starr County Livestock Rescue
TSCRA Teams Up With Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Beef Council to Offer Free Beef Quality Training in Vernon
Free Cattle Raiser Dinner and Gathering in Abilene Features Cattle Theft Prevention and Legislative Discussions
Harrison County Man Arrested on Felony Theft and Insurance Fraud Charges
Transmission Line Seminars Offer Information and Options for Landowners

Archives

CONNECT WITH TSCRA:

CONNECT WITH TSCRA:

Who we are
WHY JOIN TSCRA?
LEADERSHIP
STAFF
ALLIED MEMBERS
TSCRA FAQ
SPONSORSHIPS
EMPLOYMENT

What we do
THEFT AND LAW
ISSUES AND POLICY
EDUCATION
YOUNG CATTLE RAISERS
The CATTLEMAN MAGAZINE
CATTLEMAN NOW APP
CATTLE RAISERS INSURANCE
CATTLE RAISERS TRADING CO.

1301 W. SEVENTH STREET
SUITE 201
FORT WORTH, TX 76102
1-800-242-7820

Information
TSCRA NEWS RELEASES
EVENTS CALENDAR
TEXAS BRAND SEARCH
5 STEPS TO GET INVOLVED
MEDIA/PRESS KIT
LINKS

Membership
JOIN/RENEW

OPERATION COW THIEF HOTLINE

© 2021 Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; All Rights Reserved.
COPYRIGHT | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE