Jacob Thompson
Texas State University distributed $80,850.00, part of a large grant from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, to Jacob Thompson Cattle LLC, Pitkin, Louisiana, to pay for wild horse capture services rendered to Ft. Polk. The Thompson operation in Pitkin is the horse "kill pen". This is a point of origin for the "slaughter pipeline" for horses.
Horses that were given over to the Meridian Falls Ranch (of Buffalo, Texas) by Ft. Polk at the end of July, 2018, immediately showed up in Thompson's "kill pen".
Serious Criminal History of the Thompson's:
Several members of the Thompson family: Jacob Thompson, Michelle Thompson, Gary Thompson, Rick Thompson, and Wanda Thompson all from Pitkin, Louisiana, and Benson Wayne Thompson of Elmer, Texas, and numerous accomplices, have been conducting criminal schemes over the years (going back more than a decade) wherein they acquire cattle, pay with bad checks, or don't pay at all, and sell the cattle, flaunting state and federal laws and regulations.
Jacob Thompson has been arrested, prosecuted, sanctioned, and/or sued for this criminal activity at least in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi (and possibly elsewhere), and by the Federal Government. His company regularly crosses state lines without required legal documents.
(see: Federal Court decision against Jacob Thompson applying RICO anti-racketeering statute.)
The USDA and the Louisiana Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry have had numerous actions against the Thompson's. On August 25th, 2014, the USDA prohibited Jacob Thompson, doing business as Thompson Cattle Co., from registering to engage in business subject to the Packers and Stockyards Act (see: 7 US Code § 203) for a period of five years. That prohibition would still be in effect.
They must be making a fortune at this, because they are willing to flaunt laws and regulations and just pay the fines when they are caught.
In one case in which Jacob Thompson, Gary Thompson Rick Thompson, Benson Thompson, et al, stood trial in 2009 (see: Leesville Daily Leader Article), their scheme was perpetrated involving an estimated 5,000 count of cattle, and involved parasitically using someone else's feed lot without permission.
One could guess that they are among the ones who have been illegally using Ft. Polk ranges for maintaining horses, putting them there when there is good grass, and picking them up later.
Jacob Thompson has been convicted for felony crimes involving livestock:
On April 25, 2016, in Hopkins County, Texas, 8th Judicial District Court, Jacob Thompson plead guilty to first degree felony theft of livestock (sentence: 10 years probation) and second degree felony theft of property (sentence: 10 years deferred probation). (see: Texas Court Verdict)
(see also: Arrests in Oklahoma and Texas)
This all seems to indicate a case of organized crime. If the government goes after them with anti-racketeering statutes (RICO), they could be shut down.
On June 1st, 2018, in Allen Parish, Rick and Wanda Thompson, were arrested on charges of livestock theft. Apparently associated with the complaint, was a statement by Jacob Thompson: "Pay for them by 5 PM tonight or 85 horses shipping including 30 TB's." [TB = Thoroughbred] Jacob Thompson made a similar demand of horse rescuers who were trying to save the Ft. Polk horses that were in his kill pen. He said that they could pay $1,600 for four horses, or he would ship them the next day. [In this context, "ship" apparently means "transport to slaughter".]
"Over the last 3 years we have witnessed inhumane acts such as horses being illegally tranquilized and winched into trailers, inadequate capture and holding practices, free for all round ups that resulted in harm to the horses, roping of foals, foals being captured without their mothers, and a long list of alleged under-the-table dealings at the detriment of the horses." - Pegasus
_________________________