We just recovered a few in Alabama.
March 3, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
Ag Department Scores Huge Dragnet
MONTGOMERY – Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries Ron Sparks held a press conference today on a months-long sting operation that has led to a tremendous recovery of stolen property. As of today, fifteen counties in Alabama and one in Florida are part of the dragnet. The total value of recovered items so far is more than half a million dollars and includes: cattle, tractors, backhoes, ATVs, power tools, utility and stock trailers. The investigation also led to the discovery of other illegal items including drugs, moonshine, and untaxed liquor.
"The last six months have been exceptional for our investigations team," said Sparks. "Not only are they solving crimes, they are recovering property that has been missing for years. As the economy has worsened, the number of cattle and property thefts has gone up tremendously as unscrupulous people try to make a quick buck off the backs of hardworking citizens. So many farmers and business owners have been hurt by these thieves. I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish by working together with other law enforcement agencies to solve crimes in Alabama."
The recovery of eighteen head of cattle at the Montgomery Stockyard was especially significant as it was the first investigation in Alabama where DNA testing was used to identify stolen cattle. State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier collected samples from the cattle and sent them to the State Diagnostic Lab in Auburn. From there, the samples were forwarded to a national laboratory to be compared with the DNA from samples collected from the suspected farm of origin. Five of the eighteen were positively identified by this DNA comparison to their farm.
Arrests have been made as a result of this undercover operation in Macon, Montgomery, Lowndes, Russell and Butler Counties and numerous others are pending in various counties. Property is being returned to the rightful owners as items are identified.
The Department of Agriculture & Industries has been working closely with other state and local law enforcement agencies for many months.
Other law enforcement agencies that were part of the investigation: Alabama Department of Agriculture, Alabama Attorney General's Office, ABC Enforcement, ABI, Alabama Department of Conservation, National Insurance Crime Bureau, (NICB), Russell County Sheriff's Department, Butler County Sheriff's Department, Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, Lowndes County Sheriff's Department, Macon County Sheriff's Department, Alabama Homeland Security Division, Shorter Police Department, Dallas County Sheriff's Department, Clay County Sheriff's Department, Chambers County Sheriff's Department, Lee County Sheriff's Department, Bullock County Sheriff's Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Escambia County Sheriff's Department, Crenshaw County Sheriff's Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Department, and Elmore County Sheriff's Department.
