Five individuals have been federally indicted on accusations of having roles in a $220 million nationwide fraud scheme involving purported cattle purchase contracts, according to an announcement from United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. A Fort Worth federal grand jury returned the indictment on February 11, 2026.
Those charged are:
- Jed Wood of Fort Worth, Texas, who faces three counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of money laundering involving wiring more than $63,000 to a lender for “Home Payoff.”
- Joshua Link of Strafford, Missouri, who faces 10 counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering, including wiring more than $527,000 to purchase real property.
- Tia Link of Smithton, Missouri, who faces three counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of money laundering, including wiring more than $527,000 to purchase real property.
- Taylor Bang of Kildeer, North Dakota, who faces eight counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of money laundering.
- Royana Thomas of Arlington, Texas, who faces six counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of money laundering.
“Thousands of unwitting investors, ranchers, and others in the cattle industry nationwide were drawn in and victimized by the defendants’ multi-million dollar scheme alleged in this indictment,” Raybould said. “My office, in concert with our law enforcement partners, will hold these defendants accountable and pursue justice on behalf of the victims.”
As alleged in the indictment, each of the defendants was associated with Agridime LLC, a business headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, that offered cattle sales and meat processing and retail services to the public. Wood served as the operations director, Joshua Link as the executive director, Tia Link as the marketing director, Bang as a cattle broker, and Thomas as the financial controller.
Federal prosecutors allege that from January 2021 through December 2023, the five defendants, acting through Agridime, falsely represented to individual cattle purchasers, cattle ranchers, and feedlots that Agridime would use their funds to purchase specific individual cattle for each victim, raise the cattle, and eventually sell the meat from the same specific individual cattle for a profit.
In reality, the indictment charges that the defendants did not use victim funds as promised and instead used newer cattle purchaser funds to pay Agridime operating expenses, pay funds owed by Agridime to earlier cattle purchasers, pay personal expenses, and purchase real property.
Authorities allege the defendants fraudulently collected more than $220 million from more than 2,200 victims across the United States through false statements made in public and private advertising.
“The defendants allegedly used false promises to lure prospective clients into their scheme and then misappropriated client funds to enrich themselves. One individual, Joshua Robert Link, remains a fugitive. We are asking the public to contact the FBI if they have any information regarding Link’s location,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.
Tia Link and Taylor Bang appeared for arraignment before a United States Magistrate Judge in Fort Worth and were released under pretrial supervision. Wood and Thomas are scheduled to appear for arraignment before a United States Magistrate Judge in Fort Worth on February 25, 2026. Joshua Link remains a fugitive, and the FBI is requesting that the public contact the agency with any information regarding his location.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud count, up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the charged wire fraud conspiracy, and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each money laundering count.
The FBI’s Fort Worth Resident Agency conducted the investigation with assistance from the USDA Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McDonald is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
»Related: Agridime’s homepage taken over with post about legal issues
