Agridime LLC was a Fort Worth, Texas-based company that operated a nationwide $220 million cattle investment Ponzi scheme between January 2021 and December 2023. Posing as a legitimate cattle buying, raising, and meat processing business, Agridime misled over 2,000 investors with promises of 15% to 32% returns, using new investor funds to pay earlier investors rather than buying cattle.
Key details regarding Agridime LLC:
Fraudulent Business Model: Agridime claimed to offer investors a way to profit from cattle without doing the work, promising to buy, raise, and sell cattle for them. Instead, it functioned as a Ponzi scheme.
Massive Scheme & Losses: The scheme raised at least $191 million to $220 million from investors across at least 15 states, resulting in roughly $115 million in losses.
Federal Action: In December 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) obtained an emergency asset freeze and a receiver was appointed to shut down the company.
Criminal Charges: In February 2026, five individuals associated with Agridime were federally indicted for their roles in the fraud: 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 "Ghost Herd" Scheme: Investigations revealed that Agridime failed to purchase the number of cattle necessary to support its contracts, leading to the nickname "ghost herd" for the missing livestock.
Agridime's operations were halted following investigations by the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
