FORT WORTH, Texas — Angel Bazaldua of Uvalde County, was arrested on felony theft charges for failing to pay for two loads of goats from the Southwest Livestock Exchange. The arrest is the result of an investigation led by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Joe Aguilar Jr.

In May 2022, Bazaldua purchased 272 goats from the Southwest Livestock Exchange. The following week, he purchased an additional 388 goats from the same auction barn. To take possession of the second load of goats, the auction requested Bazaldua first pay for the initial livestock purchase. Bazaldua wrote a check for $35,000. Within days, the bank alerted the auction owners Bazaldua ordered a stop payment for the check.

An investigation led by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association led to Bazaldua’s arrest for third degree felony theft totaling $79,420.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s special rangers are an elite group of law enforcement officers who have extensive knowledge of the cattle industry. While they primarily investigate cattle theft and other agricultural crimes, they are well-trained in all facets of law enforcement. In all, the association has 30 special rangers stationed throughout Texas and Oklahoma who are commissioned through the Texas Department of Public Safety or Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

The special rangers also oversee more than 80 market inspectors who collect data, such as brands and other identifying marks on about 5 million cattle sold at 100 Texas livestock markets each year. That information is entered into the association’s recording and retrieval system, which is a vital tool for law enforcement when investigating theft cases.

For more news releases and information, visit tscra.org.

–Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association