Department of Agriculture and Forestry, State of Louisiana - Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said two Natchitoches Parish men were arrested on cattle theft charges for allegedly selling mortgaged cattle and failing to pay the lender.

Louisiana Brand Commission inspectors arrested Steven L. Jones, 1586 Hwy. 484, Natchez, and Milton Jude Metoyer, 1223 Cat Island Road, Derry, on May 17.

Jones and Metoyer are accused of unlawfully selling more than 20 head of cattle with an estimated value of $9,300 between December 2008 and July 2009.

Michael Sullivan, United States Department of Agriculture Farm Loan Manager, filed a complaint with Natchitoches Parish authorities alleging that Jones and Metoyer had sold the cattle, mortgaged and collateralized by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), but did not remit the money to the FSA.

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Brand Commission investigators have regulatory powers authorizing them to investigate farm related crimes.

Strain advised livestock owners and agricultural and forestry producers to report any suspected cases of agricultural theft to the LDAF Crimestoppers hotline at 1-800-558-9741.

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