Five arrested in organized Texas cattle theft ring
A months-long investigation into an organized Texas livestock theft operation has led to the arrest of five men accused of stealing and slaughtering approximately 70 head of cattle, according to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrested individuals include Ramon Martinez Miranda, 50; Miguel Martinez Mons, 58; Orleydis Martin Reyes, 42; Yasmani Galis-Hernandez, 34; and Reidel Martinez, 41. All five suspects have been charged with theft of livestock valued between $30,000 to $150,000, a third-degree felony under Texas law.
Traffic stop sparks investigation
The case began on Dec. 3, when officers with the Florence, Texas, police department conducted a traffic stop on a pickup truck pulling a trailer with faulty lighting. Inside the trailer, officers discovered three recently slaughtered cattle.
Investigators later determined the animals had been stolen from Capitol Land & Livestock in Schwertner, Texas.
Authorities said Reidel Martinez, who was driving the vehicle, initially claimed he had purchased the cattle in Temple, Texas, for $800 each. However, further investigation linked him to a larger, organized cattle theft operation.
Evidence of organized crime
According to the WCSO, the suspects were involved in a coordinated scheme spanning several months. Detectives uncovered multiple crime scenes where pasture fencing had been cut in a consistent manner, indicating a methodical approach to accessing and removing livestock.
Some of the evidence collected during the investigation included ammunition, tools used to process animals, digital forensic evidence, including cellphone location data, and photos of stolen and slaughtered cattle.
Authorities say the operation involved both the theft and on-site slaughter of cattle before the meat was distributed.
Multi-agency effort
The investigation involved coordination between several agencies, including the WCSO, Florence Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and a special ranger with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
“This case highlights the dedication of our investigators and the strong collaboration between agencies to combat organized agricultural crime,” said Williamson County Sheriff Matt Lindemann. “Livestock theft has a significant financial impact on our agricultural community, and we remain committed to holding offenders accountable.”
Rancher impact
Local rancher Jim Schwertner said he first noticed something was wrong when cattle head counts on his operation did not add up.
“Yeah, it was a freak deal. We knew we were missing some cattle, but we couldn’t figure out why,” Schwertner said.
He estimated the cattle were worth roughly $2,000 per head, underscoring the financial toll of the thefts.
“It’s a big deal,” he added. “Williamson County has always been diligent about cattle rustling. They’ve got a history, and they are really tough on it.”
Next steps
All five suspects are currently being held in the Williamson County Jail. Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing and believe additional information may still be uncovered.
Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office at 512-943-1300.
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
