'Bovine Bandits' busted for stealing, selling cows, deputies say

LAKELAND, Fla. – A teenager and two of his friend, dubbed the "Bovine Bandits" by authorities, were arrested this week, accused of stealing eight cows in Polk County and selling them at an auction.

Jordan Ferguson, 19, Trevar Veltrop, 21 and Dalton Pelham, 22, were arrested on charges of felony grand theft of livestock and dealing in stolen property.

"Welcome to Polk County, where if you steal someone’s cows and sell them at an auction, you get caught and get to be featured on the PCSO Facebook page," officials wrote. "Everyone, meet ... the Bovine Bandits."

The cows, three black, one brown and four calves, vanished in April from a pasture at West Bella Vista Street and Walker Road in Lakeland, deputies said. Officials said a fence had been cut, allowing the thieves to take the animals.

The theft was posted on Facebook, and deputies received a tip Tuesday that Ferguson, Veltrop and Pelham were involved, officials said.

Deputies said they learned that Pelham sold eight head of cattle at the Cattleman’s Livestock in April. The stolen cows were worth $4,000, and the victims positively identified them as the ones they owned, deputies said.

The cows, however, have not been found, deputies said.

The Sheriff's Office said when the trio was confronted, they confessed to stealing the cows, selling them and pocketing the money.

The culprits were arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail.

"Steal a cow, go to jail. It's that simple," deputies said on Facebook. "We're still looking for the cows. #PCSO #AgCrimes #nocowleftbehind."

Deputies posted on Facebook Saturday morning that three others had been arrested in the cow-related crime.

In a post on the Sheriff's Facebook page, deputies said Pelham paid Bryce Pickle, 18, $50 in April to steal a calf from the pasture. 

Earlier this month, Pickle went back to the pasture with two friends, Leroy Hamilton, 18, and Dakota McClellan, 20, to steal two more calves, according to the Sheriff's Office. 

Deputies said the trio duct-taped the baby cows' legs together and put them in a pen without food or water, but untied them and fled after someone warned them that cops were on the way.

Pickle was charged with two counts of grand theft of livestock, dealing in stolen property and confining an animal without sufficient food or water, deputies said. Hamilton and McClellan were charged with grand theft and confining an animal without sufficient food or water, according to the post.

Deputies said the baby cows will be OK and that the Sheriff's Office is still looking for others, as deputies know where they were sold.