ADA, Okla. (KTEN) — 41-year old Jason Price of Ada is set to appear in court on April 9 following 12 felony charges filed against him.

11 of those are for larceny of domestic animals, and one charge for obtaining cash by false pretenses.

Charges stem from an investigation by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association that allege Price forged documents claiming cattle as his own, originally delivered by people wanting to sell their animals to the Southern Oklahoma Livestock Auction.

"Through his previous employment at Southern Oklahoma Livestock Auction, [Price] produced fraudulent documents of ownership," District 22 District Attorney Erik Johnson said.

"The manager at the sale barn called me and said that he had suspicions of some type of activity going on,” special ranger Cody Hyde of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association said. “They would check the cattle in to sell and then after the sale took place, there would be one or two missing."

Price allegedly committed the crime on 11 separate occasions throughout last year, selling 44 stolen steers, cows and heifers, amounting to over $47,000 in losses for the Southern Oklahoma Livestock Auction.

"It's a crime that rarely gets charged,” District Attorney Johnson explained. “The way that this theft occurred over a period of time when he had some knowledge of the inner workings of the livestock auction enabled it to be covered up for a longer period than I would think you'd normally see."

If Price is convicted, each count could carry up to 10 years in prison, plus fines.

Jason Price is accused of forging documentation at the Southern Oklahoma Livestock Auction.
Jason Price is accused of forging documentation at the Southern Oklahoma Livestock Auction. (Pontotoc County Jail)