The owner of Perkins Livestock Sales was formally charged this week in Oklahoma County District Court with two counts of embezzlement on Aug. 24, court records show.
James Robb Taylor, 38, of Stillwater, was arrested on Sept. 15 and released the following day from the Oklahoma County Jail after posting $10,000 bond, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger Brett Wellden said.
Taylor is accused of calling Superior Livestock Auction and Oklahoma National Stockyards, both in Oklahoma City, and placing two orders for cattle to be shipped, according to a news release from the TSCRA.
“Both loads of cattle were not delivered to Taylor’s sale barn, but were instead taken to other properties and quickly moved to conceal their location,” the news release alleged.
“When contacted for payment, Taylor denied purchasing the loads of cattle and claimed his identity had been stolen by an unknown person,” the news release said.
On Aug. 24, one load of 80 heifers was delivered to Noble County Livestock Auction in Perry and ultimately taken the same day to pasture pens in the Red Rock area that “Mr. Taylor did not have permission to use,” Wellden alleged in a phone interview.
On Aug. 25, three other loads, 242 head of heifers, were delivered to the same pasture in Red Rock and shipped the following day to feedlots in Guymon, Ok., and Ft. Scott, Ks., Wellden alleged.
“The first load consisted of 80 heifers and sold for $110,000, and the second load included 242 head of cattle that sold for $346,582,” the news release said.
The case was investigated by TSCRA Special Rangers Wellden and Bart Perrier, the news release said. “This is an ongoing investigation and additional charges are possible,” the news release said.
“TSCRA has 30 special rangers stationed strategically throughout Texas and Oklahoma who have in-depth knowledge of the cattle industry and are trained in all facets of law enforcement,” according to the news release.
“All are commissioned as special rangers by the Texas Department of Public Safety and/or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation,” the news release said.
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