Kansas man charged with cattle thefts

An Ingalls man has been charged with selling stolen cattle at auctions.

Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker announced Thursday that 37-year-old James D. Unruh is charged with wire fraud and livestock theft.

Court records say the cattle were sold from 2006 until September 2007. The livestock belonged to seven different individuals or firms.

Prosecutors allege Unruh stole the cattle in Kansas and had them transported to other states where they were sold.

Unruh was issued a summons. A message left on his home phone in Ingalls was not immediately returned. It was unclear whether he had an attorney.

If convicted, Unruh faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the wire fraud charge, plus five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of selling stolen cattle.