The Mexican rodeo in Bedford County where several illegal activities are alleged to take place supposedly dissolved as a business more than a year ago, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website.
Yet that establishment, Rancho La Herradura in Bell Buckle, continues to operate, according to its Facebook page, and has another event planned for Dec. 22.
As reported, a few county commissioners suspect its management allows drug deals, prostitution, gambling, and human trafficking, among other things.
Also, as reported, Edgar Torres-Rangel, an alleged illegal immigrant, was drinking there before he allegedly drove drunk and killed Bedford County resident Keri King in an Oct. 21 automobile wreck.
According to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website, Rancho La Herradura dissolved in August of last year.
Secretary of State spokesman Keith Boring said Wednesday by phone that if his department’s website list a certain business as dissolved then that means the business owner or owners filed paperwork to make that happen.
In a follow-up Thursday, he said Secretary of State officials don’t determine whether such entities violate state law based on registration status with that office.
“Our function is more ministerial in nature – business entities file formation documents and subsequent records with us, but we do not regulate whether they are conducting business outside of what they file,” Boring said in an email.
“For example, Rancho La Herradura was initially formed as a corporation, but it may be that Rancho La Herradura is now operating as a sole proprietorship or a general partnership, neither of which are required to register with our office.”
From a general perspective, once a corporate entity is dissolved, Boring went on to say, the next steps it takes are to wind up the business and file articles of termination.
“If the corporate entity does not follow those steps, it may encounter additional tax burdens and operational issues arising from its lack of corporate body,” Boring said.
“The Department of Revenue would have oversight of any such tax consequences, and the operational issues would be more along the lines of business concerns with creditors and the like.”
According to the Secretary of State’s website, a man named Sergio Ortega of Bowling Green, KY. runs Rancho La Herradura.
As reported, officers with the Glasgow Police Department out of Kentucky arrested Torres-Rangel five years ago and charged him with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs — first offense. They also charged him with not having a moped driver’s license.
According to Google Maps, Glasgow is 33 miles away from Bowling Green.
As reported, officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol worked the Oct. 21 crash scene where Torres-Rangel killed King. Torres-Rangel sustained critical injuries. According to numerous sources, authorities transported Torres-Rangel to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
But Torres-Rangel left the hospital on his own, without either the THP or Vanderbilt officials stopping him. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Torres-Rangel is currently on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Top 10 Most Wanted list.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
One has to wonder, is this the current Governor of Tennessee’s “first rodeo”? How can Bill Haslam allow this blatant disregard for State and Federal law to go on? Hopefully, in early January, the new Cheriff in town will start closing the loopholes and enforcing the laws on these kind of illegal shenanigans!
But back to the current Governor, Haslam ain’t done yet. My belief is that he will take the “Lamar path” go to UT for awhile, and then come back and make a run for US Senate. We don’t need him in DC subverting President Trump’s attempts to secure our borders! Volunteers, STAY VIGILANT!