For Immediate Release: 
Aug. 26, 2016
Contact: Laramie Adams, 512-922-7328 

Ada, Okla. – An Ada, Okla. man surrendered to authorities at the Pontotoc County jail Thursday for charges stemming from an investigation of the sale of cattle over the internet. The suspect was charged with obtaining merchandise or money by false pretenses.

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger Bart Perrier jointly led the investigation with Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Special Agent Ricky Rushing.

According to Perrier, the suspect, Shane Mark Lynch, 35, Ada, Okla., doing business as Lynch Cattle Company, advertised cattle for sale on an online cattle marketing website. In June 2016 a Texas man contacted Lynch and purchased 40 head of cross bred cow/calf pairs for the sum of $80,000 from Lynch Cattle Company.

The funds were wired to Lynch who agreed to deliver the cattle to Texas. After several days of not hearing from Lynch, the Texas man realized the cattle were not going to be delivered as promised.

Lynch Cattle Company had been selling cattle for several years via the online cattle marketing site. The investigation revealed that Lynch did not actually own or possess the cattle advertised and sold to the victim in this case.

Lynch admitted that he advertised the cattle and sold them before he actually owned the cattle in question. Lynch admitted he obtained the funds from the victim but due to his financial situation he could not pay back the funds or go out and purchase cattle similar to the ones advertised to deliver to the victim as agreed.

Lynch was charged with one count of obtaining merchandise or money by false pretenses and was released from the Pontotoc County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

“This case is a good example of agencies working together to charge and arrest a person for taking advantage of ranchers via the internet,” said Perrier. “I’m pleased we were able to stop this suspect from fraudulently taking funds from multiple victims who just wanted to purchase cattle in a good faith effort.”

TSCRA would like to thank special agent Ricky Rushing for his assistance in this investigation.

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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 139-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 17,000 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.