WFCN –
An intricate cow robbery costing livestock markets over $1 million was the subject of a recent guilty plea by a guy from North Carolina.
One of the participants in the multi-state, multi-year fraud scam was William Dalton Edwards, 25, of Mount Airy. U.S. Attorney’s Office for Western District of North Carolina reports that the thefts happened between April 2018 and October 2022.
The plan was carried out by Edwards and a fellow conspirator by signing many bogus checks to buy livestock, knowing full well that their bank accounts could not handle the sums.
Swiftly after, the cattle were moved across state lines and resold mostly in Oklahoma and Texas, all in an effort to avoid being discovered by the financial institutions and sales barns that had been bilked. This move harmed family-run businesses in Texas, Virginia, and North Carolina financially and led to the acquisition of over three thousand cattle.
Documents filed in court reveal that the deceitful actions aimed to thwart the efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture to oversee and confirm equitable livestock markets. In particular, Edwards plotted against the Packers and Stockyard Division, a government agency that was tasked with this oversight.
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The criminal aspects of the scheme included carrying animals valued at more than $10,000 over state boundaries in addition to the conspiracy charge.
The sentencing process for Edwards is ongoing, but the maximum punishment for the charge is five years in prison. Due to the lack of a final sentencing date, he is still free on bond despite the conviction. Following Edwards’ guilty plea, U.S.
Attorney Dena J. King commended the joint investigation by numerous agencies, including the USDA-OIG, U.S. Secret Service, IRS-CI, and the sheriff’s offices of Cleveland and Iredell counties.
This case, brought to light by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Savage of the Charlotte office, serves as a sobering reminder of the precarious nature of various agricultural communities, which rely heavily on the honesty and reliability of their members.