Cheneyville, LA (5/13/2025) – A man arrested for stealing crawfish in Rapides Parish is facing multiple charges after deputies say he emptied hundreds of traps belonging to a local farmer.
On April 26, 2025, a crawfish farmer in the Cheneyville/Echo area reported multiple traps had been emptied overnight. The farmer also believed the thief used his personal boat to access the traps. Deputies with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office began increased patrols and initiated a formal theft investigation.
On April 30, the farmer called again to report that approximately 100 more traps had been emptied. Detectives and deputies, working alongside the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, launched an investigation using surveillance and other methods. Several days of rain stalled progress.
On May 10, during a late-night operation, deputies observed a man at the pond. A traffic stop was conducted, and the subject was identified as Tony Jake Hicks, 47, of Echo, Louisiana. Investigators say Hicks was the primary suspect and had stolen between 400 and 500 pounds of crawfish.
Hicks was arrested on May 11 and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center. His bond was set at $61,700, and he remains in custody.
Charges include:
- Running a stop sign
- Driving under suspension
- Contempt of court
- Criminal trespass
- 2 counts of felon in possession of a firearm
- 4 counts of theft
- 4 counts of criminal trespassing
- 3 counts of unauthorized use of a movable
Sheriff’s detectives say the investigation is still active and more arrests are possible. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Shannon Hanks at 318-473-6727 or Crime Stoppers at 318-443-7867.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
UrbanCast will continue to provide updates as more details become available.
