Joshua Robert Link, the executive director accused in a multi-state cattle-contract fraud scheme, was arrested on March 9 at Los Angeles International Airport. Federal agents with Customs and Border Protection, the Los Angeles Airport Police, and an FBI task force working with the Los Angeles Police Department took him into custody at the terminal.
What prosecutors say
Federal prosecutors in Fort Worth say the Agridime defendants collected more than $220 million from more than 2,200 investors, as detailed by FOX4 Dallas-Fort Worth. An earlier FBI wanted bulletin described an approximately $115 million loss to over 2,000 cattle-contract buyers, according to FBI.gov.
How the arrest unfolded
The capture was announced in a post from FBI Denver on X, which said Link was arrested on March 9 at LAX by Customs and Border Patrol, Los Angeles Airport Police, and FBI task force officers from the LAPD. A federal arrest warrant for Link was issued Jan. 29 in the Northern District of Texas after he was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, per court documents.
Regulatory history and victims
Agridime has been the subject of earlier enforcement actions: the Securities and Exchange Commission filed civil claims, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission obtained a consent order and restitution judgment, according to the SEC and the CFTC. Prosecutors say the alleged scheme touched producers and investors in more than a dozen states, leaving a scattered group of victims and a court-appointed receiver working to sort out asset recovery.
Charges, penalties, and next steps
Federal filings summarized by prosecutors say Link faces 10 counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering. Each wire-fraud count carries up to 20 years in prison, and each money-laundering count carries up to 10 years if convicted. Co-defendants have been arraigned in Fort Worth while the government pursues criminal and civil remedies connected to the receivership and prior regulatory judgments, per reporting based on the federal release.
What authorities say the public can do
Authorities had asked anyone with information about Link's whereabouts to contact the FBI; tips can be submitted at tips.fbi.gov or to the nearest FBI field office, the agency's notice says. The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Texas says the case remains active and will proceed in federal court as those investigations continue.
