Five People In Texas Accused of Running a Multimillion Dollar Cattle Fraud Business

Five people in Texas, who have been running a cattle business in Fort Worth, have been accused of fraud. According to an indictment, prosecutors claim the business was a $220 million fraud scheme.

Texas Cattle Business Was a Fraud?

WFAA is reporting that 5 people are facing federal charges in a cattle fraud business. A Fort Worth grand jury handed down the indictments this week according to the report.

Jed Wood, of Fort Worth; Joshua Link, of Strafford, Mo.; Tia Link, of Smithton, Mo.; Taylor Bang, of Kildeer, N.D.; and Royana Thomas, of Arlington face various charges in the case, including money laundering, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Link remains wanted according to WFAA.

The suspects were allegedly with a business called Agridime that is based out of Fort Worth. They offer meat processing services along with cattle sales. According to WFAA, from January 2021 to December of 2023, the suspects allegedly were accused of falsely representing themselves to ranchers, feedlots, and cattle buyers. The money that Agridime took in was supposed to be used to purchase and raise cattle. Then they would later sell the meat and give the clients part of the profit. But apparently, it didn't happen that way.

Instead, the release said, the suspects took the money to pay Agridime operating expenses and other funds owed by the company. The suspects also used the money to pay personal expenses and buy real estate, the release said.

Agridime had promised clients investment returns of 15% to 32%, according to Link's FBI bulletin. But they only purchased a fraction of the cattle they received money for, the bulletin said.

WFAA reports that the suspects are accused of taking in $220 million from over 2,200 people.