Oxtail-Gate: Texas Men Arrested After Stealing 46 Packages Of Meat

The county's constable for Precinct 4, Mark Herman, showcased the entire illegal meat stash that was confiscated during a traffic stop.

Two men in Harris County, Texas, were arrested after being caught with 46 stolen packages of meat in their car. The men allegedly stole the massive amount of oxtail, steaks, and other forms of protein on Oct. 31.

The county’s constable for Precinct 4, Mark Herman, showed the entire illegal meat stash that was confiscated during a traffic stop. The tweet on the matter went viral, garnering over 6 million X impressions for the spectacle.

#NOW: Sergeant Amaya with Constable Mark Herman's Office has two suspect in custody following a traffic stop in the 29300 block of the Northwest Freeway.

The males were found to be in possession of multiple fresh meat packages stolen from different local stores.

Great work C4! pic.twitter.com/nSsAJtpkhG
— Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4 (@Pct4Constable) November 1, 2023

“The males were found to be in possession of multiple fresh meat packages stolen from different local stores,” shared Herman.

The accused are Jacob Trevino, 30, and Robert Stevenson, 31.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the heist impacted four different grocery stores across Houston and Cypress, including Walmart, H-E-B, Kroger and Food Town. The value of the heist was more than $1,000. While the illegally-obtained goods included different cuts of beef and shrimp, the majority consisted of oxtail.

The delicacy, cut from the tail of cattle, has risen sharply over the years as a result of mainstream popularity, as detailed by Today in February. Traditionally, it was utilized by the Black community, especially those of Caribbean descent, in dishes. With the price rising from $9 to $14 per pound, the once-affordable meat has now become an expensive food item.

For their alleged crimes, the Texas residents are expected to appear for their arraignment hearings on Nov. 8, as they face aggregate theft charges that can be punished with up to a year in jail, in addition to a $4,000 fine.

Both accused were released on a $2,500 bond as they await trial for the Class A misdemeanor.