Louisiana Man Arrested for Allegedly Failing to Pay a Landowner More Than $24,000 for Timber

Louisiana – A Louisiana man has been arrested for allegedly failing to pay a landowner more than $24,000 for timber. He is charged with one count of failure to remit payment for the harvest of forest products.

James Travis Johnson, 48, was arrested by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Forestry Enforcement Agents on December 21, 2022, for allegedly failing to pay for $24,000 worth of timber in Vernon Parish. Johnson was charged with one count of Failure to Remit Payment for Harvest of Forest Products.

In November 2022, LDAF representatives received a complaint from a landowner in Vernon Parish that their timber had not been paid for. According to the landowner, Johnson Logging was contracted to harvest their trees and distribute the revenues to them. After the work was completed, neither records nor payment were sent, and the landowner reported that they were never compensated for their timber. Even though Johnson was contacted multiple times, he reportedly promised payment but never delivered it. The research indicated that the landowner is owed roughly $24,407,65 for the timber on their property.

Johnson turned himself in to the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office on November 16, 2022, on one count of Harvest of Forest Products/Failure to Remit Payment. The amount of the bond was $20,000.00.

“Timber theft can take a variety of forms—from harvesting timber without the landowner’s knowledge or consent to entering into a formal agreement and not paying them the full purchase price,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. In instances such as this, LDAF representatives are committed to assisting landowners in receiving payment for their timber.

All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

Louisiana residents can report any offenses linked to forestry to the LDAF Office of Forestry at 225-925-4500 or the LDAF 24-hour hotline at 1-855-452-5323.