Hackman	Neff	Morrow	Leonard	Simmons

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon accused five farmers today of bilking buyers in four states out of at least $1 million by promising to sell high-quality beef cattle but delivering sick and emaciated animals.

Nixon filed criminal consumer fraud charges in Howard and Cooper counties against Peggy L. Morrow, 56, of Rocheport; Jason Hackman, 30, of New Franklin; Lance E. Neff, 34, of Napton; Ben Leonard, 19, of Bunceton; and Robert L. Simmons, 54, of Boonville. None of the defendants could be reached for comment this morning.

The defendants are associated with MJL Cattle Co., a New Franklin business owned by Mitchell J. Leonard. Nixon also filed a civil lawsuit against Mitchell and MJL seeking full restitution to farmers bilked in the alleged scam.

Beginning in at least 2003, the lawsuit alleges, the defendants advertised top-notch stock in trade publications or online and even arranged in-person tours for potential buyers to inspect cattle that appeared healthy and well fed. They then allegedly delivered sick and emaciated cattle of a different breed. Some deliveries were never made, and buyers often were told that cows were pregnant when they were not, Nixon said.

In a news conference this morning at a Boone County farm owned by David Grant, Nixon referred to at least a dozen victims in from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. More are expected to emerge, he said.

"It’s bad apples like this that sully all of us," said Brent Bryant, executive vice-president of Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, who appeared with Nixon today.

One victim in the case said this morning he made a down payment of $45,000 for 300 head of cattle that were never delivered. Job Keltner, a cattle, corn and bean farmer near Wapello, Iowa, said he saw an ad in High Plains Journal and sent a representative to inspect the cattle. The stock checked out, Keltner said, so he went to the farm to close the deal. "I never did get the cattle, and I never did get my money back," he said.

Keltner said he dealt with Morrow and Neff, her son. A refund check was sent to him, he said, but it bounced.

Consumers can file complaints in this case with the attorney general’s office by calling (800) 392-8222 or by visiting www.ago.mo.gov.