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Three arrested in farm equipment theft ring

ALBANY, LA (WAFB) - Three men were arrested in connection with a theft ring involving tractors, lawnmowers, trucks and trailers. Two of them were charged with possession of $250,000 in stolen items from the Mississippi area. The third suspect is believed to be the ring leader.

Homer Hess, 40, of Kentwood and Devon Lipson, 18, of Jackson, MS were charged with possession of stolen property. Steve Ginter of Jackson, MS was also arrested after further investigation. He is the suspected leader of the theft ring, but authorities didn't specify what charges he will face.

In late September, the Mississippi Agricultural Theft Bureau notified Louisiana State Police that farm equipment taken from several John Deere dealerships could be en route to Louisiana. An investigation by Louisiana troopers and the Albany Police Department uncovered allegations Hess was trying to sell some of the stolen equipment. According to state police, an undercover agent set up a meeting with Hess to buy a mower from him in the Albany area.

Reports showed Hess arrived at the meeting driving a pickup and pulling a trailer loaded with a four-wheeler, a Yamaha Rhino and a lawnmower. The truck and trailer had been stolen from Rayville, LA and the other items had been stolen from a John Deere dealership in Magnolia, AR the night before. Burglary tools were also found inside the truck.

Louisiana State Police arrested Hess and Lipson. They were booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center. They were both charged with five counts of possession of stolen property. Hess was also charged with one count of possession of Schedule I controlled dangerous substance. 

The men led investigators to several locations in Livingston Parish and the towns of Hazelhurst and Jackson in Mississippi. Agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation arrested Ginter while searching a location in Jackson, MS.

Investigators have recovered three John Deere tractors, a Massey Ferguson tractor, three lawnmowers, a tow truck, a Chevrolet one-ton truck, a 25-foot gooseneck flatbed trailer, a Nissan Maxima, a four-wheeler and a Yamaha Rhino.

The investigation is ongoing.

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