The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Weslaco man on Monday after he sold three ponies valued at $7,000 for $600, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Emmanuel Cadena, 36, was charged with theft of horses.
On Aug. 8, police responded to 1207 W. Mile 14 North in regards to a theft report where they met Joel Treviño who said he was the owner of three miniature ponies, the affidavit said.
Trevino left his ponies in the care of Emmanuel’s mom, Onoria Cadena, while he went to work in Minnesota. Cadena later filed a report that the ponies were stolen or were lost, the document said.
According to the complaint, Trevino told investigators his ponies were valued at $7,000 and told Onoria and Emmanuel that he would give them $200 if they found out who stole his ponies. Emmanuel responded with a text, giving Trevino the address where his ponies were, the affidavit stated.
On Mile 15 North in Weslaco, investigators met Manuel Ramirez who said he bought the ponies sometime in December 2021 from Cadena for $600. Cadena signed a homemade receipt Ramirez made, the affidavit said.
Ramirez said he picked up the ponies in his silver Ford F-150 and his red trailer.
“Investigators made contact with Abraham Cadena who said he is Emmanuel’s brother and that some time in Dec. saw a silver truck with a red trailer parked in front of his home,” the affidavit stated.
Investigators reviewing the evidence and statements determined that Cadena did commit the felony offense of theft of horses, according to the affidavit.
Cadena bailed from the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center the same day of his arrest on a $10,000 bond.
