Two brothers behind a $240 million cattle investment scheme that defrauded more than 2,200 people nationwide have been convicted in federal court. Prosecutors say the pair sold contracts for approximately 60,000 more cattle than their company actually controlled, using investors’ money to pay earlier investors, cover business debts, and fund luxury purchases.
Joshua Robert Link, formerly of Strafford, Missouri, and Jason Allen Link, of Herington, Kansas, were convicted November 10 following a six-day trial in Fort Worth, Texas. The brothers operated through Agridime LLC, a Fort Worth-based cattle investment and beef marketing company.
According to federal prosecutors, Agridime offered investors the opportunity to purchase individual cattle for $2,000 each. The company promised to raise and care for the animals, process them into beef, and sell the meat for a profit…