The United States Department of Justice
Welcome to the District of Kansas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News releases are available at www.usdoj.gov/usao/ks/press.html

Contact: Jim Cross
PHONE: 316-269-6481
FAX: 316-269-6420

APRIL 10, 2007

---

CATTLEMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO $1.3 MILLION FRAUD

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - Kevin Russell Thompson, 39, Richmond, Kan., pleaded guilty Monday to one count of stealing livestock.

In a hearing before U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia, Thompson admitted he fraudulently sold more than $1.3 million worth of cattle during March 2002 through December 2003 while he was doing business as WNK Cattle Company of Richmond, Kan.

"Mr. Thompson was inexperienced handling herds of cattle as large as the ones he was hired to feed," said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren. "When he found himself unable to meet his financial obligations, he turned to fraudulent means of solving his problems."

In his plea, Thompson said that WNK Cattle Company was a cattle pre-conditioning lot providing pasture areas to cattle owners for grazing cattle to increase the weight of the livestock before sale. Facing financial pressures, Thompson admitted, he sold cattle entrusted to him without authorization from the owners or sold cattle and did not forward the proceeds to the owner. He sold cattle at sale barns in Fredonia, Kan., Springfield, Mo., and Carthage, Mo.

The following businesses and individuals were victims of the crime: Tailgate Cattle Company of Wauneta, Neb.; Riffel Cattle Company of Stockton, Kan.; Rafter B. Cattle Company of Shattuck, Okla.; R+ Cattle Company of Sublette, Kan.; Hammer Farms of Sublette, Kan; Cattle Empire of Satanta, Kan.; Hemme Ranch of Perry, Kan.; Morris Cattle Company of Harrison, Ark.; Walter Krier of Shawnee, Kan; and Kevin Krier of Parkville, Mo.

Sentencing is set for July 9. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000, and restitution. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Kansas Brand Inspection Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.