A years-long investigation by the Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau has led to federal charges and a prison sentence for an Indianola man.
The investigation began in November 2022 after the theft of an airplane engine from a farm hangar. According to the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, the case led to the recovery of a large amount of stolen equipment in Sunflower and Issaquena counties.
The investigation continued with the MALTB working alongside federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
As a result of the investigation, 51-year-old Christopher Douglas Showah was sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three felonies.
According to court documents, Showah pleaded guilty to possession of firearms by a convicted felon, flying without a valid airman’s certificate, and fraud related to maintenance work performed on an aircraft donated to Delta State University’s aviation program.
“This investigation was a joint effort among local, state, and federal partners all dedicated to seeing that the parties involved go through the justice system regardless of the time it takes,” MALTB Director Dean Barnard said.
Barnard credited investigators for their work in the case, which resulted in the recovery of stolen agricultural property and the seizure of nearly 40 illegal firearms.
The MALTB is the law enforcement division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. The agency investigates crimes involving cattle, horses, poultry, farm equipment, chemicals, timber, and other agriculture-related property.