Men suspected in farm-theft ring are set for first court appearance

Two of the three men who were indicted last week by federal authorities for reports of stolen equipment and vehicles will make a federal court appearance Tuesday at 10 a.m. The FBI arrested Tuesday arrested Michael L. Goss, 47, of Kansas City, Mo., and Sheldon M. Trieb, 24, of Tonganoxie. The third man, Jason K. Smith, 24, of Lawrence has not surrendered yet.According to the indictment, federal investigators accuse the three men of conspiring to steal various pieces of heavy equipment and vehicles in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri and taking them to Kansas and Missouri where they were sold to other individuals or businesses.Federal authorities have investigated the property theft since 2005.