Fort Worth jury convicts brothers in 240 million dollar Agridime fraud scheme

FORT WORTH, Texas — A federal jury in Fort Worth convicted two brothers on November 10 of multiple fraud and money laundering charges related to a scheme that prosecutors said defrauded more than 2,200 victims nationwide.

Joshua Robert Link, formerly of Strafford, Missouri, and Jason Allen Link, of Herrington, Kansas, were found guilty of their roles in a 240 million dollar scheme operated through Agridime, LLC, a company based in Fort Worth.

Following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman, the jury returned its verdict. Joshua Link, identified in the release as Agridime's co-owner and Executive Director, was convicted of two counts of wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering.

Jason Link, who owned Shady Brook Ranch, LLC and served as an Agridime livestock broker and Meat Chain Director, was convicted of one count of wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering.

According to court documents, Joshua Link conspired with several other individuals, including Jed Hansel Wood of Fort Worth and Royana Jane Thomas of Arlington, to operate Agridime and defraud cattle purchasers. Trial evidence indicated that the defendants executed cattle contracts that falsely represented that Agridime would use investor funds to purchase, care for, and process specific individual cattle.

In reality, the release states, the defendants used those funds to pay operating expenses, loan payments, and earlier investors, while also overstating the amount of cattle owned to secure financing.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould stated that the defendants preyed on Main Street Americans who believed they were investing in cattle contracts. He described the operation as a high-tech Ponzi scheme that siphoned life savings to build luxury retreats. FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said the convictions reflect the brothers' calculated efforts to misappropriate funds to enrich themselves.

The FBI remains committed to disrupting fraud schemes that target communities.

Sources

U.S. Department of Justice