FORT WORTH, Texas — A federal jury convicted two brothers of fraud and money laundering in a $240 million cattle investment scheme that defrauded more than 2,200 victims nationwide, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Joshua Robert Link, formerly of Strafford, Missouri, and Jason Allen Link, of Herington, Kansas, were convicted Nov. 10 after a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman. The case involved Fort Worth-based Agridime LLC.
Joshua Link, Agridime’s co-owner and executive director, was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.
Jason Link, who owned Shady Brook Ranch LLC and worked as an Agridime livestock broker and meat chain director, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.
Sentencing for both brothers is scheduled for March 4.
According to court documents, Joshua Robert Link, of Strafford, Missouri, conspired with Jed Hansel Wood, of Fort Worth, Texas; Tia Makenzie Link, of Smithton, Missouri; Taylor Orris Bang, of Kildeer, North Dakota; and Royana Jane Thomas, of Arlington, Texas, to operate Agridime LLC and defraud cattle buyers.
Evidence presented at trial showed that the defendants falsely promised buyers their money would be used to purchase specific cattle, care for the animals, process them into meat and sell the meat.
Through direct solicitations and online advertising, Joshua Link and others offered steers or heifers for $2,000 each, falsely assuring buyers that each purchase would fund an individual animal.
Bank records revealed that the proceeds were diverted to luxury personal expenditures, including:
- $1,498,275 paid to a construction company to construct a luxury five-bedroom, four-bathroom “barndominium” residence in Herington, Kansas, built for the brothers’ recreational use (as shown below)
- $24,838 to purchase a 2006 Hummer H2
- Thousands of dollars in additional checks for solar panel installations and plumbing supplies
Defendants, Joshua Link and Jason Link, face twenty years of prison in each conspiracy conviction, twenty years of prison on each wire fraud conviction and ten years in prison on each money laundering conviction.
Jed Wood faces twenty years in prison on his conspiracy conviction. Tia Link faces ten years in prison on her money laundering conviction.
Taylor Bang faces five years of prison on his conspiracy conviction. Royana Thomas faces three years of prison on her conspiracy conviction.
The defendants also face a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
Sentencing for Joshua Link and Jason Link is set for March 4, 2027.