Johnny Louis Payne II of Louisiana was arrested for writing fraudulent checks to purchase livestock and agricultural equipment.
The Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau (MALTB) assisted in the arrest of a man wanted in several states for writing fraudulent checks to purchase livestock and agricultural equipment. Johnny Louis Payne II of Louisiana was arrested on January 11, 2025.
The MALTB received a tip that Payne was at an auction in Carthage, Mississippi. When Payne learned investigators were on their way, he fled towards Rankin County. MALTB investigators reached out to the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office for assistance and their deputies were able to make a traffic stop where Payne was later arrested.
Payne reportedly bought livestock and agricultural equipment with fraudulent checks in several states, including Texas, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina and Mississippi. At the time of his arrest, Payne was pulling a stock trailer that was bought at an auction in North Carolina with a fraudulent check.
MALTB Director Dean Barnard would like to thank the anonymous caller for reaching out regarding Payne’s whereabouts. Director Barnard would also like to commend his MALTB investigators and the Rankin County deputies for their quick response which led to the arrest of Johnny Payne.
The Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau, the law enforcement division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, enforces state laws pertaining to the theft of cattle, horses, swine, poultry, fish, farm equipment, chemicals, timber and all other farm or agriculture-related crimes. Visit http://msagtheft.org/ to learn more about the MALTB.