Cases by industry
Agriculture & cattle Ponzi schemes
15 cases announced 2009–2023, involving about $1.2B in reported investor money. Most cases came from Missouri, Texas and Colorado.
The largest by reported amount: Mark Ray, Reva Joyce Stachniw, Ron Throgmartin ($650M, 2019). Charges are allegations unless a court has entered a conviction or judgment.
Pitch phrases seen in these cases
- “use their funds to acquire, feed, and raise cattle on its network of ranches”
- “guaranteed return”
- “leaseback payments”
- “approximately 10% to 20% over periods as short as several weeks”
- “private placements”
- “quarterly dividends of about 5%”
- “contracts with utility companies”
- “made millions of dollars selling solar energy to utility companies”
Cases
| Date | Case | Location | Industry | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18, 2023 | Agridime LLC Jed Wood, Joshua Link, Tia Link, Royana Thomas, Taylor Bang |
Fort Worth, TX | Agriculture & cattle | $191M |
| Apr 28, 2023 | McClain Farms Inc., 7M Cattle Feeders Inc., McClain Feed Yard Inc. Brian McClain |
Benton, KY | Agriculture & cattle | $170M |
| Dec 11, 2021 | Trophy Outfitters Inc. Richard K. Sears |
Pueblo, CO | Agriculture & cattle | $5M |
| Mar 16, 2020 | Robert Blom | Corsica, SD | Agriculture & cattle | $20M |
| Sep 30, 2019 | Mark Ray, Reva Joyce Stachniw, Ron Throgmartin | Denver, CO | Agriculture & cattle | $650M |
| Apr 26, 2019 | Christopher D. Dougherty | San Diego, CA | Agriculture & cattle | $7M |
| Jul 11, 2018 | Clean Energy Advisers LLC Christopher B. Warren |
Anthony, FL | Agriculture & cattle | $28M |
| Apr 3, 2018 | 5A Holdings LLC Cameron J. Hager |
Clinton, MO | Agriculture & cattle | $4.7M |
| Jan 4, 2018 | Justin Tyler Greer | Tarzan, TX | Agriculture & cattle | $1.5M |
| Jul 11, 2017 | Gentry Brothers Tractor Supply, Gentry Auto Jeffery Lynn Gentry |
Sparta, TN | Agriculture & cattle | $43M |
| Apr 24, 2015 | Matthew D. Haab, Tobin J. Senefeld, Jeffrey B. Risinger | Indianapolis, IN | Agriculture & cattle | $15M |
| Oct 1, 2012 | Susi Emu Farms M.S. Guru |
India | Agriculture & cattle | $50M |
| Feb 15, 2012 | Edward Shannon Polen | Greenbrier, TN | Agriculture & cattle | $16M |
| Jun 27, 2011 | R&K Angus Ranch Kevin Ray Asbury |
MO | Agriculture & cattle | $8M |
| Jul 20, 2009 | T.J. Gieseker Farms and Trucking, T.J. Gieseker Trucking LLC Cathy M. Gieseker |
Martinsburg, MO | Agriculture & cattle | $27M |