Finance1 min read

Texas brothers convicted in $240m cattle scheme that defrauded 2,200 people

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Joshua Robert Link and Jason Allen Link ran Agridime LLC from January 2021 to December 2023, marketing investment contracts at roughly $2,000 per animal under the false promise of meat-sale profits. In reality, the business lacked the livestock required to back the deals, overpromising by approximately 60,000 head of cattle. The brothers then redirected millions of dollars of incoming investor capital into personal projects, such as home construction, while cycling capital to cover obligations to older clients. Four other individuals connected to the enterprise had previously entered guilty pleas for related crimes.

Key points

  • A six-day federal jury trial ended with wire fraud and money laundering convictions for b…: A six-day federal jury trial ended with wire fraud and money laundering convictions for both corporate operators.
  • The three-year enterprise functioned as a Ponzi scheme by using new investment deposits t…: The three-year enterprise functioned as a Ponzi scheme by using new investment deposits to pay off older investors and business debts.
  • Four additional individuals linked to Agridime previously entered guilty pleas on conspir…: Four additional individuals linked to Agridime previously entered guilty pleas on conspiracy and money laundering charges.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

What seemed like a chance to invest in cattle and profit from the meat business turned into a multimillion-dollar fraud that hit thousands of Americans. Investors were led to believe their money would buy, raise and process cattle until the meat could be sold at a profit. But federal prosecutors say the business operated on a very different model, using money from new investors to pay earlier commitments and fund personal luxuries. The scheme has now led to the federal conviction of two brothers in Texas.

Brothers found guilty after six-day federal trial

According to the US Department of Justice, Joshua Robert Link and Jason Allen Link were convicted on Nov. 10, 2026, by a federal jury for their roles in a $240 million cattle-investment fraud involving Fort Worth-based Agridime LLC.

The verdict followed a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman. Joshua Link, co-owner and executive director of the company, was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.

His brother, Jason Link, Agridime’s…

Finance