5 charged in Williamson County theft ring after 70 head of cattle stolen, slaughtered

5 arrested in cattle rustling ring in WilCo

Williamson County authorities arrested five men in connection to a months-long investigation into the theft and slaughter of 70 head of cattle.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas - A months-long investigation into a sophisticated livestock theft operation has resulted in the arrest of five men accused of stealing and slaughtering approximately 70 head of cattle across Williamson County, authorities announced Friday.

Livestock theft ring dismantled

Ramon Martinez Miranda (Age: 50), Miguel Martinez Mons (Age: 58), Orleydis Martin Reyes (Age: 42), Yasmani Galis-Hernandez (Age: 34), and Reidel Martinez (Age: 41) 

What we know:

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) identified the suspects as Ramon Martinez Miranda, 50; Miguel Martinez Mons, 58; Orleydis Martin Reyes, 42; Yasmani Galis-Hernandez, 34; and Reidel Martinez, 41. 

All five are being held at the Williamson County Jail on charges of theft of livestock between $30,000 and $150,000, a third-degree felony.

The backstory:

The investigation began on Dec. 3, 2025, when Florence police conducted a traffic stop on a pickup truck towing a trailer with faulty lighting. Officers found three dead cattle inside the trailer along with evidence that the animals had recently been killed.

Detectives later determined the cattle had been stolen from Capitol Land & Livestock in Schwertner, Texas.

According to court documents, the traffic stop led investigators to a bigger case of organized crime. Reidel Martinez was driving the truck pulling the trailer. He allegedly claimed he bought the cows in Temple for $800 each. Martinez would eventually be accused of heading up a cattle rustling ring that resulted in the arrest of four other men. 

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the group allegedly engaged in an organized scheme over several months. Investigators found multiple crime scenes where pasture fencing had been cut in a consistent manner to facilitate the thefts. 

Evidence recovered during the investigation included ammunition, animal processing tools, and digital forensic data; including cell phone location records and photos of slaughtered cattle found on a suspect's phone.

Breaking up the crime ring involved several different agencies. Along with Florence PD, the case was worked by the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, Texas DPS, as well as a special ranger with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. 

What they're saying:

"This case highlights the dedication of our investigators and the strong collaboration between agencies to combat organized agricultural crime," Williamson County Sheriff Matt Lindemann said in a statement. "Livestock theft has a significant financial impact on our agricultural community, and we remain committed to holding offenders accountable."

Livestock theft ring: 5 arrests in Williamson Co.

Williamson County authorities arrested five men in connection to a months-long investigation into the theft and slaughter of 70 head of cattle. FOX 7 Austin's Jessica Rivera has the details.

Local perspective:

There are a lot of cattle on a sprawling ranch between Jarrell and Bartlett, but last year, according to owner Jim Schwertner, the headcount just wasn’t adding up.

"Yeah, it was a freak deal. We knew we were missing some cattle, but we couldn't figure out why," said Schwertner.

Investigators say the ring stole and slaughtered 70 head of cattle.

"It's a big deal. These cattle are worth about $2,000 a head, and Williamson County has always been diligent about cattle rustling, always. They’ve got a history. They used to hang ‘em. They don't do that anymore, but they are really tough on cattle rustling," said Schwertner.

Cattle rustling is a year-round problem for large and small ranching operations. Cases typically ramp up when the price of beef goes up. The stolen meat is later sold on the roadside or on the black market.

"Just get your guard up and pay attention and make sure you got a good sheriff," said Schwertner.

What's next:

The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office at (512) 943-1300.