Father and Son Sentencted for Transporting Stolen Property
| U.S. Attorney’s Office February 04, 2010 |
SHERMAN, TX—U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that a Quinlan, Texas father and son have been sentenced to federal prison for transporting stolen property and wildlife trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas.
JAMES DEWAYNE ANDERTON, 49, and JIMMIE WALLACE ANDERTON, 26, both of Quinlan, Texas, pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2009, to charges of interstate transportation of stolen property (ITSP) and interstate trafficking of wildlife under the Lacey Act, and were sentenced to federal prison on Feb. 2, 2010 by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.
According to information presented in court, in May, 2006 search warrants were executed at two ranches, one in Delta County and the other in Hunt County, owned by the Andertons. During the search, officers recovered stolen farm machinery and construction equipment. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on July 8, 2009, charging the Andertons and TIMOTHY SHANE PEAVLER, 37, of Lone Oak, Texas, with federal crimes.
James Anderton was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for the ITSP charge and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $180,952.45. Jimmie Anderton was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for the ITSP charge and was ordered to be jointly responsible for $180,952.45 in restitution. Peavler pleaded guilty on July 27, 2009, to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and was sentenced to six months in federal prison and ordered to pay $42,403.42 in restitution. In addition, James Anderton and Jimmie Anderton were charged with violations of the Lacey Act involving the illegal transportation of deer across state lines. Each was sentenced to 12 months' confinement on the Lacey Act charges to be served concurrently with their ITSP convictions.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall Blake.