BENTON, IL (KFVS) -
A new federal court date is set for the local cattle buyer accused of stealing millions from auction barns in several states.
37 year old Ron Shepard faces the revocation of his probation tied to a 2004 wire fraud conviction involving cattle sales in Florida.
Shepard's attorney, Terry Green, filed a motion to continue his client's August 2nd hearing.
The judge granted that request and rescheduled it to August 16 at 1:30p.
U.S. Marshals brought 37-year-old Ron Shepard from Texas to Benton, Ill. Monday afternoon.
He is currently being held in the Franklin County Jail.
Shepard is accused of stealing cattle and cattle proceeds in at least five states from August of 2011 to March of this year, all while on probation following his 2004 conviction on wire fraud charges involving cattle deals in Florida.
Shepard, who lived in Williamson County, conducted business with partner Jeremy Pierce as Brookfield Cattle Company out of rented space at the United Producers Auction Barn in Goreville.
Authorities in Sharp County Arkansas, Levy County Florida, and Rains County Texas all have active warrants for Shepard's arrest.
Pierce remains in custody in Arkansas and also faces charges in Florida.
Authorities believe Shepard staged his own disappearance in late March, as federal authorities moved to revoke his probation and send him back to prison.
Wayne Sharrock, owner of the Patton Junction Auction Barn, says Shepard stole cattle from him the day before he went missing.
U.S. Marshals tracked Shepard to Mexico in May. Authorities there took him into custody on July 9 and deported him to Texas the next day.
If his probation is revoked, he faces up to two years in federal prison.
In the meantime, authorities in Arkansas, Florida, and Texas have all filed detainers on Shepard, expressing their intent to prosecute him as well.
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