Texas Man Sentenced, Another Pleads Guilty to Role in Vehicle Theft Ring

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Louisiana
June 5, 2014

LAFAYETTE, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that 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 for participating in a scheme to steal tractors in Texas and sell them in Louisiana. 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 Deer 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.

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.