A Sebewaing man has admitted in court to running what investigators say was a multi-county tractor theft ring, entering a no-contest plea to a felony racketeering-style charge tied to stolen farm equipment across Michigan.
Jeffrey Shane Nunnery, 54, pleaded no contest Monday in Huron County 52nd Circuit Court to conducting a criminal enterprise, habitual offender third notice, and agreed to pay full restitution. Judge Gerald M. Prill set sentencing for Monday, June 22 at 9 a.m. Nunnery remains held without bond in the Huron County Jail.
Investigation and arrest
The case traces back to October 2025, when Sebewaing Police Chief Steven Repkie shared a series of theft tips with the Huron County Sheriff’s Office. After follow-up work by Sgt. Brandon Kadar and Detective Daryl Ford, deputies, arrested Nunnery on Oct. 7, 2025, according to WNEM. Sheriff Kelly Hanson said the investigation uncovered what authorities described as a theft ring operating across several counties and producing multiple recovered items.
Recovered machines and evidence
Investigators say Nunnery broke into a shed in Rubicon Township and stole a Massey Ferguson utility tractor, which the owners did not even realize was missing until contacted by law enforcement. That machine was ultimately traced to a buyer in the Hemlock area. Detectives also identified a smaller John Deere utility tractor believed to have been sold, and they recovered a utility trailer reported stolen from the Roscommon area during a search of Nunnery’s home, according to the Huron Daily Tribune.
Sales, possible victims and public tips
Sebewaing police have said some of the stolen goods did not travel far. According to officers, certain items were advertised on Facebook Marketplace and others turned up at rummage sales held at the suspect’s residence. Investigators are asking anyone who bought property from Nunnery to contact authorities so they can verify who owns what. The ongoing probe has also flagged several long guns and additional items for identification while detectives work to match recovered property with outstanding theft reports, according to Manistee News.
What the charge means
“Conducting a criminal enterprise” is a felony Michigan prosecutors often use when they say a defendant committed multiple crimes as part of an ongoing operation. State guidance notes that a criminal-enterprise conviction can bring serious prison time and steep fines. The Michigan Attorney General’s office has described the offense as punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine, and court rulings show that when judges apply habitual-offender enhancements, sentences in some cases have approached 40 years, according to state court records.
What owners and buyers should do
Sheriff Hanson has urged owners of utility tractors and similar equipment to double-check their machines, verify serial numbers and make sure nothing has quietly gone missing. Investigators also recommend that would-be buyers of used equipment insist on a bill of sale, confirm the seller’s identification and run checks before handing over cash in private deals.
Industry tools can help. The National Equipment Register maintains theft-reporting and registration services that law enforcement uses to track stolen gear, and registering machines or checking the database can significantly improve the odds of getting property back, according to local reporting from Sanilac Broadcasting and guidance from the National Equipment Register.
Next steps
Nunnery is set to return to Huron County’s 52nd Circuit Court for sentencing on June 22 at 9 a.m. Prosecutors say the investigation is not over, as detectives continue to track sales and reunite property with rightful owners. Anyone who believes they bought a stolen item from Nunnery, or who has information about the case, is asked to contact the Huron County Sheriff’s Office at 989-269-6500 or Huron Central Dispatch at 989-269-6421, according to the Huron Daily Tribune and other regional reporting.
