Five people have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Fort Worth, Texas, for their alleged involvement in a $220 million nationwide cattle fraud scheme. The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
The individuals charged are Jed Wood of Fort Worth, Texas; Joshua Link of Strafford, Missouri; Tia Link of Smithton, Missouri; Taylor Bang of Kildeer, North Dakota; and Royana Thomas of Arlington, Texas. The charges include multiple counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering. The indictment details that the accused used funds from newer investors to pay earlier investors and cover personal expenses instead of using them as promised for cattle purchases.
According to U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould: “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. My office, in concert with our law enforcement partners, will hold these defendants accountable and pursue justice on behalf of the victims.”
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock stated: “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.”
All five defendants were associated with Agridime LLC based in Fort Worth. Jed Wood served as Operations Director; Joshua Link as Executive Director; Tia Link as Marketing Director; Taylor Bang as a cattle broker; and Royana Thomas as financial controller.
From January 2021 through December 2023, it is alleged that they misrepresented how investor funds would be used—promising specific cattle purchases but instead using those funds for other purposes such as company expenses or real estate acquisitions.
More than 2,200 victims across the United States reportedly lost over $220 million due to these fraudulent representations made via public and private advertising.
If convicted on all counts, each defendant faces up to twenty years in prison per wire fraud charge and conspiracy count, plus up to ten years per money laundering charge.
Tia Link and Taylor Bang appeared before a magistrate judge today and were released under pretrial supervision. Jed Wood and Royana Thomas are scheduled for arraignment on February 25. Joshua Robert Link remains at large. The FBI has asked anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward (https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wcc/joshua-robert-link).
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Fort Worth Resident Agency with help from USDA-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McDonald is prosecuting the case.
It is important to note that an indictment is only an allegation at this stage; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
