Mount Airy Man Pleads Guilty To $1 Million Cattle Theft Scheme

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The U.S Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina announced, William Dalton Edwards, 25, of Mount Airy, N.C., has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in connection with a $1 million livestock theft scheme. Edwards admitted his involvement in the scheme during a court hearing, acknowledging his role in defrauding livestock markets across multiple states.

The investigation, spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Southeast Region, in collaboration with the U.S. Secret Service Charlotte Field Office, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Charlotte Field Office, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, revealed the intricate details of the fraudulent operation.

According to plea documents, Edwards and a co-conspirator engaged in fraudulent activities from April 2018 to October 2022. The duo targeted livestock markets, also known as sales barns, in North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, and Virginia. They purchased cattle using checks they knew were worthless due to insufficient funds. Before the defrauded markets and financial institutions could identify the fraudulent checks, the conspirators transported the cattle out of state and resold them in Texas and Oklahoma.

Court records indicate that the scheme involved over 3,000 head of cattle, resulting in more than $1 million in losses to the affected sales barns. Many of these barns, particularly the family-owned ones in North Carolina, faced significant financial strain as they are required to pay farmers and ranchers immediately after livestock sales.

Edwards’ guilty plea includes charges of conspiring to defraud the United States and violating federal laws. The conspiracy aimed to obstruct the efforts of the USDA’s Packers and Stockyard Division, which regulates fair livestock markets. Additional charges include obtaining funds from federally insured financial institutions through false statements, stealing livestock valued over $10,000, and transporting stolen livestock across state lines.

The statutory maximum penalty for the offense is five years in prison, along with potential restitution and fines. Edwards has been released on bond, with a sentencing date yet to be determined.

U.S. Attorney King praised the collaborative efforts of the USDA-OIG, the U.S. Secret Service, IRS-CI, and the sheriff’s offices of Cleveland and Iredell counties in investigating the case. She also acknowledged the assistance provided by the Stanly County District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Savage of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.

This case highlights the commitment of federal and local law enforcement agencies to combat fraud and protect the integrity of the agricultural industry.