VALDOSTA, GA – A 72-year-old Alabama cattle broker is facing federal prison time after admitting to a brazen scheme that left farmers in three states holding the bag, totaling over $414,000 in losses. Tommy W. Baxley, of Slocumb, Alabama, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of theft of livestock before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson.
Baxley operated as Tri State Cattle Marketing, a registered livestock dealer. Between September 2017 and February 2018, he brokered five deals involving feeder cattle with farmers in North Carolina, Mississippi, and Moultrie, Georgia. The catch? Baxley never intended to pay for the cattle he sold, instead pocketing the profits for personal use.
According to investigators, Baxley confessed to diverting the funds, claiming he hoped to recoup the money through further deals and *then* pay the farmers. That never happened. The total loss to the victims tallied $414,265.45. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia is prosecuting the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McCullers leading the charge.
“Cattle rustlers and others who steal from our hardworking farmers and ranchers will face federal prosecution in the Middle District of Georgia,” declared U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. The investigation was a collaborative effort, involving the U.S. Secret Service, the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office, the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Clint Bush, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Albany, Georgia office, emphasized the emotional and financial damage inflicted on the victims. “Mr. Baxley violated the trust of livestock farmers… The actions by Mr. Baxley caused emotional and financial hardships to the innocent livestock farmers that cannot be repaired,” Bush stated. He affirmed the Secret Service’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting similar fraud cases.
Baxley now faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. This case serves as a stark reminder that even in the rural heartland, financial crimes are taken seriously by federal authorities, and those who prey on the livelihoods of farmers will be held accountable. For inquiries, contact Pamela Lightsey at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges at (478) 765-2362.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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