Minnesota Cattle Rustler Convicted for Moving Stolen Livestock into Northeast Iowa

A Minnesota man who stole cattle from a farmer and sold them in Northeast Iowa has pleaded guilty to transportation of stolen livestock.

 In a plea agreement, 48-year-old Lawrence Burns of  Eitzen, Minnesota, admitted that, from at least October 2017 to March 2024, he worked as a farmhand in Minnesota.  From time to time, a farmer directed Burns to transport certain cattle and grain to various locations in Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri, as part of Burns’ employment.  Without the farmer’s knowledge, Burns loaded extra cattle and grain and sold the extra cattle and grain in Burns’ own name.  

Prosecutors say Burns lied and claimed he owned a portion of the cattle and grain that he was transporting across state lines.  In the plea agreement, Burns admitted he stole at least $150,000 of the farmer’s cattle and grain during this timeframe.

On Friday (05.08), Burns was convicted in federal court in Cedar Rapids. He will be sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams after a presentence report is prepared.  

Burns remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing.  He faces a possible maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release following any prison term.

 The case was investigated by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office.