Atlanta, Ga - Today, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper announced that the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s (GDA) Law Enforcement Division assisted Arkansas Department of Agriculture (ADA) Law Enforcement to successfully resolve a complex, interstate horse theft case. Authorities with ADA Law Enforcement requested assistance from GDA Law Enforcement after uncovering that part of a sophisticated, fraudulent theft by deception scheme had extended into Georgia. The coordination between agencies led to the swift identification and apprehension of the suspects in the state of Georgia.
“Our Department’s Law Enforcement Team is committed to supporting other law enforcement agencies here in Georgia and across state lines to help ensure those who commit crimes involving agriculture are brought to justice,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper. “This case required close cooperation, resources, and expertise from both agencies, and we are proud to have played a role in solving this case and providing closure for the victims.”
Horse theft continues to be a serious issue impacting agricultural producers, ranchers, and equine enthusiasts, with multiple cases reported in recent months across Southeast including Florida, Mississippi, and Texas. It is estimated 40,000 horses are reported stolen annually in the United States. In this case, the suspects allegedly deceived victims in Arkansas through the use of fraudulent financial transactions and false representation to unlawfully obtain multiple horses, resulting in significant monetary loss to the victims. Officers from both agencies dedicated many hours to identify and interview witnesses as well as investigate financial transactions, transportation records, and sale records of the stolen horses which occurred in a third state.
(Two of the horses recovered during the course of this investigation. Photo Credit: Georgia Department of Agriculture)