CHARLOTTE, NC. — Man charged for $1M cattle theft scheme, according to the Western District of North Carolina’s Attorney’s Office.

William Dalton Edwards allegedly conspired with another person to defraud livestock markets in Iredell and Cleveland Counties, NC, as well as in Texas, Oklahoma and Virginia between April 2018 and October 2022.

An investigation discovered that Edwards and his coconspirator would purchase cattle from sales barns in North Carolina with “worthless” checks, linked to accounts with insufficient funds to pay for the cattle.

According to court records, the two collaborators arranged to transfer cattle out-of-state before the sales barns or financial institutions could determine the checks were insufficient. They would then resell the stolen cattle in Texas and Oklahoma. Between April 2018 and October 2022, they obtained over 3,000 head of cattle and caused over $1 million in losses to sales barns. The losses were incurred immediately since sales barns are required to pay producers right after the sale of their livestock.

Williams pled guilty to the charges against him, including hampering and impeding the Packers and Stockyard Division of the US Department of Agriculture in its regulation of fair livestock markets. Other objects of the charged conspiracy included a scheme to obtain funds under the custody and control of federally insured financial institutions through false statements and representations, to steal livestock valued at more than $10,000 and to transport stolen livestock in interstate commerce.

Edwards was released on bond. While a sentencing date has not been declared, the statutory maximum for the charged offense is five years in prison and any restitution or fines ordered by the court.