Skip to main content

Men Charged with Cheating at Bass Tournament

Men Charged with Cheating at Bass Tournament
Shutterstock image

The men are accused of cheating at bass tournament held at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas

Two Texas men are facing felony fraud charges after they allegedly deceived a bass-tournament event to win prize money.

According to published reports, Joe Carl Loftin, 58, of Doboli, Texas, and Tanner Neal, 23, of Chester are each charged with third-degree felony fraud in a fishing tournament with a prize of $10,000 or more.

Shutterstock image

The men were arrested by Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens last week.

The charges stem from a March incident in a BassCashBash tournament on Sam Rayburn Reservoir, in which investigators said Loftin,, who was entered in the tournament, tried to claim a prize with a bass caught by Neal, who was not entered,

The tournament offered cash and prizes to anglers catching tagged bass at Sam Rayburn from Jauary through April, according to its website. The entry fee was $50.

The Lufkin Daily News reported, citing the arrest warrant, that officials became suspicious after Loftin took two polygraph tests, and apparently showed signs he was lying. Subsequent investigation included Loftin admitting the two men allegedly agreed to split the money, the newspaper reported.

It was unclear how much the fish was worth.

Loftin admitted to the deception in April, according to news reports.

BassCashBash made a statement about the incident on Facebook, including:

"As long as anglers are enjoying our format we will not allow one incident spoil things for our other participants and we will continue to polygraph all of our winners just as we've done these last two years."

Recommended


Visit the organization's Facebook page

Both men posted $1,500 bail, and have been released from the Angelina County jail, according to KTRE-TV. Neal was released on June 23; Loftin was released June 23.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Use the onX Hunt app's Compass Mode and Rangefinder Tool to boost your turkey hunting success this spring.
Hunting

Kevin Steele - California Hunt #2

Use the onX Hunt app's Compass Mode and Rangefinder Tool to boost your turkey hunting success this spring.
Hunting

Kevin Steele - Patterning Your Turkey Hunt

Use the onX Hunt app's Compass Mode and Rangefinder Tool to boost your turkey hunting success this spring.
Hunting

Kevin Steele - California Hunt #1

Use the onX Hunt app's Compass Mode and Rangefinder Tool to boost your turkey hunting success this spring.
Hunting

Kali Parmley - Florida Turkey Slam #1

Use the onX Hunt app's Compass Mode and Rangefinder Tool to boost your turkey hunting success this spring.
Fishing

Bass Crash Course: How and When to Fish a Buzz Toad

Use the onX Hunt app's Compass Mode and Rangefinder Tool to boost your turkey hunting success this spring.
Destinations

Polaris – Pack Up and Play On

Use the onX Hunt app's Compass Mode and Rangefinder Tool to boost your turkey hunting success this spring.
Gear

Polaris – Camping Adventures In Style

Use the onX Hunt app's Compass Mode and Rangefinder Tool to boost your turkey hunting success this spring.
Fishing

Bass Crash Course: How to Find Bass in an Unfamiliar Lake

Use the onX Hunt app's Compass Mode and Rangefinder Tool to boost your turkey hunting success this spring.
Fishing

Bass Crash Course: Is Bait Color Choice Important?

Use the onX Hunt app's Compass Mode and Rangefinder Tool to boost your turkey hunting success this spring.
Gear

What Turkey Hunters Need to Know About TSS

Use the onX Hunt app's Compass Mode and Rangefinder Tool to boost your turkey hunting success this spring.
Learn

onX Hunt: Your Edge for Successful Spring Turkey Hunts

Game & Fish Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Game & Fish App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use