Tennessee man arrested for felony theft and other charges
For immediate release: September 9, 2024
On September 4, inspectors with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission (LBC) arrested 53-year-old Bert E. Smith, IV, of Lewisburg, Tennessee, on an arrest warrant out of Anderson County, Kansas.
Smith is a known cattle buyer and regularly buys at several sale barns in Louisiana. For that reason, LDAF’s LBC was notified of the warrant by the Anderson County Sheriff's Office. Once made aware of the warrant, LBC inspectors took Smith into custody without incident. He was booked in the Avoyelles Parish Jail.
The Anderson County warrant included ten counts of felony theft pertaining to livestock (with an estimated value of approximately $1,815,172), six counts of giving a worthless check valued over $25,000, and one count of mistreatment of a dependent adult or elder person. Smith has been released on bond, which was set at $150,000.
“Livestock Brand Commission personnel, who investigate all agricultural crime in Louisiana, are sometimes called on to assist with cases in other states,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM. “This kind of coordination and cooperation is instrumental in fighting agricultural-related crimes across the country.”
The Livestock Brand Commission maintains a 24-hour Crimestoppers hotline at (800) 558-9741 for the public to report thefts or other agriculture-related crimes. All persons accused of crimes are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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For more information regarding the press release, please contact LDAFCommunications@ldaf.state.la.us .
For interview requests, please contact PressSecretary@ldaf.state.la.us .