A Richmond cattleman pleaded guilty Tuesday to fraudulently selling more than $1.3 million worth of cattle, federal prosecutors said.

Kevin R. Thompson, 39, admitted to illegally selling cattle from March 2002 to December 2003 at WNK Cattle Co., according to U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren.

The eastern Kansas cattle business sold grazing pasture to farmers to increase the cattle’s weight before sale.

Thompson admitted to selling cattle without authorization and not giving the profit to owners.

“Mr. Thompson was inexperienced at handling herds of cattle as large as the ones he was hired to feed. When he found himself unable to meet his financial obligations, he turned to fraudulent means to solve his problems,” Melgren said in a news release.

Thompson will be sentenced July 9 and faces up to five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.