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Date Posted: 06:00:54 12/22/08 Mon
Author: Varmit
Subject: Hard to figure out some people


A rodeo professional and a McAlester ranch manager have been charged with embezzlement and conspiracy in a case involving nearly $180,000 worth of stolen cattle.

Traven Wayne Clifft, 22, of rural McAlester, and professional bull fighter and rodeo personality Michael Eugene Matt, 36, of Blanco, Texas, were charged Wednesday with conspiracy and three counts of felony embezzlement. Clifft, who was arrested Friday afternoon, was also charged with three additional counts of embezzlement, one of them a misdemeanor.

Matt is a four-time world champion bull fighter and rodeo personality who won the 2004 professional bull riders bull fighting competition at PBR national finals in Las Vegas, according to his promoter, Donnell Rodeo Promotions.

The agency’s Web site, rodeopromotions.com, notes his popular specialty act features him standing astride two horses as they jump over a car.

Matt and Clifft are accused of selling cattle at livestock sales in McAlester and Ada in Matt’s name, and then splitting more than $47,000 in proceeds. Clifft is also accused of selling another 280 head for $131,200, charging $952 in tires to the ranch owner and taking $300 in fuel.

Clifft had managed Ramblin Rose Ranch in western Pittsburg County for Tom and Joann Boozer of Bakersfield, Calif., police said. Tom Boozer became suspicious when invoices for feed began decreasing.

“So he drove to Oklahoma and showed up one day at the ranch in McAlester,” said Special Ranger John Cummings of the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. “He got some cowboys together and rounded up the livestock.”

They found nearly 300 head of cattle missing.

“I think he was lucky to have a dozen, two dozen cattle left,” Pittsburg County sheriff’s deputy Doy Sennett said. “They took a great amount of livestock from him.”

Sennett said Tom Boozer contacted his office more than a year ago, and he called the TSCRA.

“This is kind of our area of expertise,” Cummings explained.

After several inventories, grand jury subpoenas for bank records and interviews at cattle sale barns, Cummings said he turned over a binder with his findings to the district attorney’s office last June.

He was surprised Thursday to hear the charges had been filed.

“I’ve been six months waiting for warrants,” he said. “We started working on this in July 2007, so it’s been over a year.”

Friday, he drove to McAlester to meet Sennett and they arrested Clifft at a Stuart feed store that afternoon.

Cummings said Matt would probably be asked to turn himself in next week.

“I don’t think he’ll be a problem,” the Ranger said of the rodeo celebrity. “He’s been real cooperative.”

Cummings said the Boozers are hoping to recoup some of their losses, although most the cattle have probably been sold for slaughter.

“Mr. Boozer is going to be essentially hoping the court will order some restitution in the case to recover his losses,” the officer said. “Financially, I think it was a really big hit for him.”

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