Commissioner Sid Miller Praises TDA Investigators, Law Enforcement for Cracking Massive Texas Grain Theft Case (9/1/2026)

AUSTIN — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today praised investigators with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and law enforcement agencies across the state following the arrests of three men accused of participating in a massive, organized grain-theft operation spanning multiple Texas counties.

What began as a single grain-theft complaint in Guadalupe County grew into a months-long statewide investigation that authorities have connected to 176 stolen loads of grain weighing approximately 9.12 million pounds. TDA uncovered more loads that were potentially stolen for a total of more than 200 being actively investigated valued at more than $800,000

As investigators discovered the alleged thefts extended far beyond Guadalupe County, the Texas Department of Agriculture became an active partner in the investigation, providing specialized knowledge of Texas grain operations and assisting law enforcement as investigators worked to identify facilities, loads, records, and transactions potentially connected to the case.

Through TDA’s Grain Warehouse Program, the agency regulates public grain warehouses and maintains specialized expertise in the records and documentation used to track the storage, handling, weighing, and movement of grain.

TDA personnel assisted investigators by reviewing grain warehouse records and other documentation, examining scale weight tickets and records associated with individual loads, identifying potentially affected facilities and grain movements, and helping investigators trace activity across multiple locations and jurisdictions. TDA’s regulatory and investigative personnel also provided law enforcement with technical expertise on grain warehouse operations and the records necessary to help connect individual incidents to the broader alleged operation.

TDA’s involvement helped investigators work through the enormous volume of agricultural records associated with a case involving millions of pounds of grain and scores of individual loads.

The following statement may be attributed to Commissioner Sid Miller:

“This was an alleged organized operation targeting Texas agriculture on a massive scale, and I’m damn proud the Texas Department of Agriculture helped law enforcement follow the trail.

When investigators started, they quickly realized it stretched far beyond one theft and one county and that’s where TDA’s expertise became important. Our people know the Texas grain business and they understand scale tickets, storage records, inventories, and how millions of pounds of grain move through the system.

TDA personnel helped investigators review records, examine scale tickets, identify potentially affected facilities and loads, and trace grain movements as this case expanded across Texas. When you’re talking about 176 loads and more than nine million pounds of grain, that kind of specialized knowledge matters.

I want to personally commend the TDA employees who worked alongside our law enforcement partners on this investigation. They brought their agricultural and regulatory expertise to the table, helped connect the dots, and supported the men and women in law enforcement who built this case. That is public service at its best.

I also want to commend Sheriff Joshua Ray and the outstanding investigators at the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office. They could have looked at that first complaint as an isolated theft. Instead, they kept digging, followed the evidence, crossed county lines, and brought in the partners they needed to uncover what authorities believe was a much larger criminal operation.

And never forget who pays the price for crimes like this. Grain sitting in a bin represents months of work and enormous investment. When somebody steals a farmer’s grain, they are stealing that farmer’s paycheck and threatening the livelihood of Texas families.

Here’s my message to anybody who thinks our farmers, ranchers, grain operators, or rural communities are easy targets: think again. You can cross a county line, but the investigation can cross it right behind you. TDA will continue putting our expertise and resources to work alongside law enforcement to protect Texas agriculture and the hardworking people who feed and clothe this nation.”

The investigation began March 11 when the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office received a report of grain theft on Barbarossa Road, and TDA was notified on March 26 and worked closely with the Texas Department of Public Safety throughout the investigation. According to investigators, witness statements and evidence developed from that initial complaint ultimately pointed toward an alleged network responsible for taking loaded semi-trailers of grain without authorization from grain facilities across Texas.

As the investigation widened, TDA personnel worked with law enforcement to help identify and examine relevant grain records, review documentation associated with loads under investigation, trace grain movements, identify potentially affected facilities, and provide context about the operation and regulation of the Texas grain industry.

That work complemented the criminal investigative efforts of the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies, allowing investigators to compare information across jurisdictions and develop a broader picture of the alleged operation.

The Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with TDA, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Navarro County Sheriff’s Office, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Frio County Sheriff’s Office, and Taylor Police Department during the investigation.

Authorities arrested Larry Regalado, 57, of New Braunfels; Ricky Regalado, 52, of Smiley; and Pablo Franco Jr., 46, of Atascosa County. Each faces charges including theft of property, engaging in organized criminal activity, and stealing grain or receiving stolen grain. The investigation remains active, and authorities have indicated additional arrests are possible.

TDA’s Grain Warehouse Program protects Texas agricultural producers and other grain depositors by overseeing regulated public grain warehouses. As part of that responsibility, TDA personnel have specialized knowledge of grain inventories, scale weight tickets, storage and handling records, financial documentation, and other records associated with grain warehouse operations. That expertise can provide valuable assistance to law enforcement when criminal investigations involve the storage, movement, or disposition of agricultural commodities.

Any additional theft reports should be directed to TDA and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

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