A Hendersonville, Tenn., man was arrested Friday and charged with 18 counts of theft in a case that involves victims across the U.S., including Blanco, Texas. Timothy Michael Evans, 50, is accused of selling electronic cattle ear tags and not delivering the product.
TSCRA Special Ranger Mike Barr led the investigation with assistance from Special Ranger Wayne Goodman and Hendersonville, Tenn., Sheriff’s Department Detective Sgt. Jim Vaughn.
According to Barr, the suspect made up a company called Cattle Traxx and used a website and social media to fraudulently sell electronic ear tags to a victim in Blanco, Texas. The victim said he never received the ear tags he purchased and Evans continuously made excuses for delays in delivery.
An investigation revealed Evans made up the fake company and charged 29 victims for ear tags but never planned to deliver the product. The ear tags Evans promoted never existed. The suspect also scammed multiple news publications by failing to pay invoices for advertisements he placed to promote the product.
Barr worked with Vaughn to locate Evans by tracking the suspect’s computer IP address. Vaughn arrested Evans Friday, and the suspect was charged with 14 counts of theft over $1,000 and four counts of theft over $10,000. Evans is currently being held in the Summer County, Tennessee, Jail on a $10,000 bond. The suspect is awaiting his criminal court date set for Jan. 20, 2017.
“Scamming ranchers is a crime we take very seriously, and I am pleased we were able to arrest this suspect,” said Barr. “I appreciate everyone who helped with this investigation and look forward to seeking justice for the many victims who were taken advantage of through fraud and theft.”
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