Texas Man Sentenced, Another Pleads Guilty in Machinery Theft Scheme

United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley in Louisiana announced that one Texas man has been sentenced and another has pleaded guilty in a scheme to steal tractors and other large equipment and sell the items in Louisiana

Vincent L. Simmons, 48, of Porter, Texas, was sentenced and Carey Dale Reed, 40, of Conroe, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik. Simmons was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

According to evidence presented at the guilty plea hearings, from December 2010 to October 2011, Simmons conspired with Reed to steal a John Deere mower, a CASE Skidster front end loader, and a Kubota KX 61 Mini-Excavator. They then sold the machinery to Katherine and Ronnie Larocca of Calcasieu Parish, who were also part of the scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

Reed faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count. A sentencing date was not set.

The Louisiana State Police and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. McManus is prosecuting the case.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana