Santa Rosa County businessman arrested on forgery, stolen property charges: Report
SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — A Santa Rosa County businessman has been arrested on multiple charges including forgery, stolen property and public order crimes, News 5 has learned.
Matas Bernard Cosse, Jr., 52, of New Orleans, was arrested March 1 on 12 counts of forgery, eight counts of stolen property, six counts of public order crimes, one count of fraud, and one count of larceny, according to an arrest report from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Cosse is listed as the manager and registered agent of Cosse’s Place restaurant in Milton, Fla., according to the State of Florida’s Division of Corporations website.
The cross-state investigation begins
Here’s how it all allegedly began: An SRCSO investigator was reportedly contacted by a special agent with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture who had been investigating multiple thefts of John Deere tractors, skid steers, trailers, golf carts, excavators, and other high-value equipment.
The MDA special agent reportedly said his investigation led him to a possible suspect in Santa Rosa County who was dealing in the stolen equipment.
On Jan. 23, the investigator was approached by a man who said he had been involved in three sales of skid steers but that, at the time, he did not suspect they had been stolen and did not have information to indicate they were stolen, according to the report.
That man reportedly told the investigator that Cosse was the man who had the skid steers.
Tracking a serial number to Bundridge, Alabama: SRCSO
Investigators reportedly found Cosse through a search of SRCSO records. Investigators said they found a report filed on Jan. 19, which named Cosse as a suspect in that case.
A man who allegedly purchased one of the skid steers from Cosse had filed the report on Jan. 19 regarding the purchase, arrest documents said.
The man said he had purchased the equipment from his neighbor, Cosse. He said Cosse was selling the skid steer for $35,000, “due to it being totaled,” according to the report.
Research later showed the retail price for that piece of equipment was $84,881.
He said he paid Cosse in person for the equipment, but when he took it home on Dec. 13, he found some unusual things about it. The report said he found that the GPS unit had been cut, and the serial number plate had been removed.
The man listed those reasons for filing a police report.
Although the serial number plate had been removed, a second serial number allegedly had been found. That serial number confirmed for investigators that the equipment had been stolen out of Brundidge, Ala., according to the report.
Cosse had allegedly “sold the equipment under the fraudulent claims this equipment was salvaged/damaged equipment and was only selling it for cash,” said the report.
Another skid steer, another missing serial number: SRCSO
Detectives interviewed another man who allegedly purchased a skid steer from Cosse on Jan. 26. The serial number plate had also been allegedly removed from that equipment.
However, the second serial number on the skid steer was still on the machine, which allowed investigators to find that it had been stolen out of Meridian, Miss., according to the report.
That man also reportedly told investigators he had purchased a trailer from Cosse.
The man reportedly paid Cosse $3,500 cash for the trailer. The trailer’s VIN had allegedly been removed; however, investigators said they found the exact year, make and model of the trailer was stolen with a skid steer in North Port, Ala.
Investigators report a Mississippi connection
On Feb. 5, a third man contacted investigators on the case, and reportedly told them he had purchased two skid steers and a tractor from “Mike Cosse,” according to the report.
He said he had spoken with the man who had helped Cosse sell the equipment and that is when he learned the three pieces of equipment were likely stolen.
Investigators went to the man’s home on Feb. 6, and he showed them the three pieces of equipment. Again, the serial number plate reportedly had been removed from the equipment, but the second serial number was still on it, according to the SRCSO.
One piece of equipment had been stolen out of Jones County, Miss., another out of Biloxi, Miss., and the last out of Hattiesburg, Miss., according to the report.
Two customers speak to each other and compare notes
Investigators reportedly were contacted by a fourth man on Feb. 7 regarding a purchase he had made from Cosse.
The fourth man said he had talked to the third man and learned about the allegedly stolen equipment.
The fourth man said he had purchased a tractor from Cosse and the serial number plate had been removed; the second serial number allowed investigators to determine it had been stolen from Jones County, Miss., they said.
On Feb. 8, investigators were called to a Pace home for a report of a possible stolen Toro Dingo TX-1000, according to the report.
The man who reported the possible stolen equipment said he had bought the machine from Cosse in November 2023.
The engine serial number was found and allowed investigators to determine it was stolen out of Baker, Fla., they said in the report.
Executing the search warrant
On Feb. 9, SRCSO investigators reportedly executed a search warrant at Cosse’s home.
At the time, Cosse could not provide any paperwork showing that the equipment had been salvaged or sold, according to the SRCSO. While conducting the search warrant, deputies found over half a million dollars worth of stolen property.
Cosse was arrested but has since been released from jail, according to the Santa Rosa County jail log.
The Sheriff speaks on the matter
News 5 spoke with Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson who said they have a theory as to how Cosse was able to steal all of the equipment.
“I think what they were doing was according to one of my detectives they would pull up in front of these stores like a big tractor store John Deere or whatever and they have tractors on trailers out front to display them and they would just pull up and hook up real quick and leave,” said Sheriff Johnson.
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