Clint Clifford Sicking, a 41-year-old resident of Muenster, Texas, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for his involvement in a cattle theft scheme. The sentencing was announced by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term, Sicking will serve two years under court supervision and must pay $406,707 in restitution to victims.
According to information presented in court, Sicking conspired with William Dalton Edwards between April 2018 and October 2022 to defraud livestock markets—commonly known as sales barns—in Iredell and Cleveland Counties, North Carolina. The pair purchased cattle using checks they knew would not clear due to insufficient funds. After acquiring the cattle, they transported them out of state before the financial institutions or sales barns could realize the checks were worthless. The stolen livestock was then resold in Texas and Oklahoma.
The fraudulent activities led to more than 750 head of cattle being obtained unlawfully and resulted in over $400,000 in losses for family-owned sales barns in North Carolina. These businesses are required to pay farmers and ranchers immediately after livestock is sold, which left them financially vulnerable when the checks bounced.
Sicking pleaded guilty to conspiring both to defraud the United States and to impede regulations enforced by the Packers and Stockyard Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees fair practices in livestock markets.
Sicking remains free on bond until he is assigned a federal facility by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. His co-conspirator Edwards previously received a 24-month prison sentence for his role.
Russ Ferguson stated: “In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the USDA-OIG, the U.S. Secret Service, IRS-CI, and the Cleveland and Iredell County Sheriff’s Offices for their investigation of the case. U.S. Attorney Ferguson also thanked the Stanly County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Savage prosecuted this case.
