KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Five Kaufman County residents were among seven people arrested in January on charges stemming from an alleged multi-state ATV theft ring spanning Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) announced yesterday.
KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Five Kaufman County residents were among seven people arrested in January on charges stemming from an alleged multi-state ATV theft ring spanning Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) announced yesterday.
The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation which authorities believe may involve approximately 22 suspects in total.
“TSCRA Special Rangers and local law enforcement authorities have recovered a total of 14 stolen ATVs so far in this continuing investigation,” stated a news release.
Six of the recovered ATVs, totaling $74,000, were reported stolen on November 23, 2015, from Nor-Tex Tractor Supply in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
“The investigation revealed the Nor-Tex theft was linked to other ATV thefts reported on April 23, 2015, in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana,” stated the release.
The 14 ATVs were recovered in Kemp, Seagoville, Terrell, Scurry, Dallas, Balch Springs, River Oaks, Sulphur Springs, and Deville, Louisiana.
“This is an ongoing investigation and additional arrests are expected in this case,” stated the release. “Authorities are continually receiving information from multiple jurisdictions on related criminal activities as far as eastern Tennessee.”
35-year-old Joshua Christopher Terry, 30-year-old Laronda Kay Reed, 38-year-old James Lindy Minter all of Kemp, Texas, 35-year-old Ricardo Saldivar of Combine, Texas, and 35-year-old David Paul Rockwell of Terrell, Texas, were the Kaufman County residents arrested and facing charges of organized criminal activity. Also arrested were 35-year-old Darrell Wayne Waites of Deville, Louisiana, and 42-year-old Ben Wheeler of Balch Springs, Texas.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department is also searching for 29-year-old Christopher Lee Chambers of Mabank, 33-year-old Dustin Kyle Garcia of Scurry, and 34-year-old Christopher Brandon Garcia of Seagoville in connection with the Nor-Tex theft.
TSCRA Special Ranger Toney Hurley and Sulphur Springs Police Department Sgt. Bo Fox are jointly leading the investigation. TSCRA Special Rangers Troy McKinney, Wayne Goodman and law enforcement departments in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana are assisting.
Locally, the Forney Police Department, Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, Seagoville Police Department, Mabank Police Department, Mesquite Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Athen Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety are credited with assisting in the investigation.
“This case provides a great example of TSCRA Special Rangers working in conjunction with multiple other law enforcement agencies to stop widespread criminal activity and make sure thieves are held accountable for their actions,” said Hurley. “This type of theft case can negatively impact ranchers who rely on using equipment, such as ATVs, to perform their daily operations. This is why TSCRA Special Rangers investigate more than livestock theft.”
