A 45-year-old dairy worker in Washington has been charged with first-degree livestock theft and trafficking in stolen property after authorities said he sold cows from the dairy farm he worked at and kept the money for himself.
Prosecutors say Victoriano Ortiz Arroyo received $30,000 over a three-year period for selling more than 30 cows belonging to J&K Dairy. The cows belonged to J&K Dairy of Sunnyside, Wash., where Arroyo was employed. Part of his job according to court records was to deliver cull cows to a local auction market.
The dairy learned of the sales from the Toppenish Livestock Yard in November, according to Yakima County sheriff’s deputies. The dairy became aware of the scheme in Nov. 18 when they were alerted by the Toppenish Livestock Yard. Sale records indicate Arroyo started taking sales proceeds from the cows in 2014.
