LDWF arrests five Mid-West men and another for alleged contest fraud |

Louisiana – Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) law enforcement officers have arrested six subjects for their roles in alleged fraud during hog hunting competitions in Caldwell and Bienville Parishes.

Officers arrested Trace Davis, 30, of Longville, Hunter Webb, 27, of Pitkin, Colby Bushnell, 26, of Dry Creek, Davy Haymon, 35, of Pitkin, Nathan Granger, 34, of Vinton, and Don Pollard Jr., 40. , of Pitkin, for fraud in hunting competitions and criminal conspiracy. Davis, Webb, Bushnell, Haymon and Pollard Jr. were also arrested for interstate commerce violations. Davis was also arrested for obstruction of justice. Webb was also cited for hunting with a hunting license suspension.

Agents received information about the six subjects catching wild hogs in Texas before two different hog hunting contests in Louisiana and entering them in the contests, which they won.

During the investigation, agents obtained evidence revealing that the six subjects were catching hogs in Texas for use in the Dingler Wild Hog Roundup in Bienville Parish on February 9-10 and the Swamp Time Hog Hunt in Caldwell Parish March 14-16.

Nathan Granger turned himself in to the Bienville Parish Prison on June 4 after he did not participate in the Caldwell Parish Hog Hunting Contest. The remaining five subjects turned themselves in on June 7 at the Bienville Parish Prison and the Caldwell Parish Prison.

The rules for both hog hunting contests stipulated that hogs had to be taken during the contest dates and be taken in Louisiana.

Hunting competition fraud carries a $3,000 fine and one year in prison. The criminal association is liable to a fine in the same way as the offense envisaged by the conspirators. Violation of interstate commerce carries a fine of $900 to $950 and up to 120 days in jail. Obstructing justice is punishable by a $10,000 fine and five years in prison. Hunting under a hunting license suspension carries a fine of $250 to $500 and up to 90 days in jail.

The officers involved in the case are Sgt. Raymond Davis, Senior Constable Micheal Thacker, Corporal Jeremiah Fletcher, Lt. Chad Watts, Sgt. Stuart Guillory, Corporal John Blalock, Sgt. Chuck Dison, Corporal David Nelson, Lieutenant Beau Robertson, Senior Constable Chelsea Moudry, Corporal James Smith and Senior Constable Dustin Barton.