Echo man arrested, accused of stealing up to 500 lbs. of crawfish

RAPIDES PARISH, La. (KLFY) — An Echo man has been arrested and charged with stealing up to 500 lbs. of crawfish from a local farmer, authorities said.

Tony Jake Hicks, 47, of Echo, is charged with four counts of theft, four counts of criminal trespassing, three counts of unauthorized use of a movable, two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, one count each of contempt of court and criminal trespass and traffic violations.

Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office received a complaint April 26 of a theft of crawfish from a local crawfish farmer. The farmer said he discovered multiple traps emptied from the previous night, and that it appeared as though the subject was using the farmer’s boat to run the traps, officials said. 

The complainant called again April 30 to report approximately 100 crawfish traps had been emptied again overnight.

On May 10, a man was observed at the pond during an operation being conducted by Sheriff’s Patrol and Resident Deputies, Crime Suppression Unit and Detectives along with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. A traffic stop was conducted and contact was made with the subject, Hicks, who detectives said was the primary suspect in these thefts. 

According to the complainant, approximately 400-500 pounds of crawfish were stolen.

Hicks was placed under arrest on Sunday and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center on a $61,700 bond.

Sheriff’s Detectives say this is still an active, ongoing investigation and more arrests are possible.  If anyone has any information on these thefts, they are asked to contact Detective Shannon Hanks, Criminal Investigations Division-Main Office, at 318-473-6727 or Crime Stoppers at 318-443-7867.

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