The Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau (MALTB) helped with the January 11 arrest of a man accused of using fraudulent checks to purchase livestock and agricultural equipment across several states.
Johnny Louis Payne II, a Louisiana resident, was taken into custody after MALTB investigators received a tip about his presence at an auction in Carthage, Mississippi.
When Payne learned law enforcement was on the way, he fled the scene, heading toward Rankin County. The MALTB quickly notified the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, whose deputies intercepted Payne during a traffic stop, leading to his arrest.
Payne is suspected of purchasing livestock and agricultural equipment using fraudulent checks in multiple states, including Texas, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina, and Mississippi. At the time of his arrest, Payne was towing a stock trailer he had allegedly purchased with a fraudulent check at a North Carolina auction.
“This arrest would not have been possible without the anonymous tip we received,” said MALTB Director Dean Barnard. “I want to thank the caller for providing Payne’s whereabouts and commend the investigators and Rankin County deputies for their quick response and cooperation.”
The MALTB, the law enforcement division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, is responsible for investigating crimes related to the theft of livestock, farm equipment, chemicals, timber, and other agriculture-related items.
