Two Rapides Parish residents are accused of four counts of fraudulently selling livestock valued at more than $189,000 and totaling 230 head of cattle.
Ricky and Wanda Thompson, both 69-years old, are charged with four counts of Disposal of Property (Livestock) with Fraudulent or Malicious Intent in Rapides Parish.
The pair was previously arrested in June of last year, accused in a cattle rustling scheme out of Allen, Avoyelles, and St. Landry Parish. In that case, the Thompsons were arrested along with their son Justin Thompson.
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Brand Commission investigators say the fraud in Rapides Parish occurred between June through September 2017. This was the same time the cattle rustling ring occurred, according to officials.
LDAF says the investigation resulted from a complaint that cattle were reportedly sold in Rapides Parish and the proceeds for the transactions were never received by the mortgage holder of the lien on the land where the cattle were located.
The lien covers both the property and the moveables (cattle) on the property.
LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said, “This is not the first time the LDAF brand commission has arrested Ricky and Wanda Thompson. The Thompson’s, including their son Justin, were arrested in June 2018 for stealing livestock valued at $1 million from four Louisiana livestock markets.”
This afternoon, the Thompson’s were booked into Rapides Parish Jail. No bond has been set.
