An Evansville man was arrested after a year-long timber theft investigation.
Indiana Conservation Officers identified 17 victims in Gibson and Posey counties who have not been paid for timber per agreements going back as far as 2018. They began their investigation in 2019 when they received information that 40 year old Christopher Collins, of Evansville, did not pay for timber in Gibson County. According to investigators, Collins did not pay for more than a quarter-million dollars worth of timber over a two-year period.
The investigation also revealed that Collins used a number of business names to make the false purchases. These include: C&K Forestry management, LLC, C&K Forestry LLC, C&M Forestry LLC, Blackhaus Forestry LLC, and Collins Family Forestry.
A search warrant served a Collins’s home provided evidence and information leading investigators to more victims. Collins is now facing several charges in both Gibson and Posey counties.
Gibson County:
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One count – Corrupt Business Influence – Level 5 Felony
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Five separate counts – Theft – Level 6 Felony
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Two separate counts – Check Deception – Level 6 Felony
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Five separate counts – Failure to Pay for Timber as Agreed – Class A Misdemeanor
Posey County:
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One count – Corrupt Business Influence – Level 5 Felony
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Nine separate counts – Theft – Level 6 Felony
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Three separate counts – Check Deception – Level 6 Felony
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Eleven separate counts – Failure to Pay for Timber as Agreed – Class A Misdemeanor
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One count – Unlicensed Timber Buyer – Class A Misdemeanor
