Jason Canals, a 39-year-old resident of Spring Hill, has been arrested and charged with eight counts of interstate transport of stolen property, according to a Feb. 27 announcement by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
The charges stem from allegations that Canals defrauded wholesale produce companies out of more than $600,000 worth of onions and potatoes through multiple schemes. The case highlights the risks faced by businesses in the agricultural supply chain when dealing with fraudulent actors.
According to the indictment, Canals used a company’s name and email signature block without permission to request produce from victim companies. While shipments were en route, he allegedly diverted them to new locations and failed to pay for the goods. In another scheme, Canals is accused of providing false documentation that led companies to believe he had prepaid for produce when no payment was made.
If convicted on all counts, Canals faces up to 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also states that the United States intends to forfeit any proceeds traceable to the offenses. “An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty,” Kehoe said.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn E. Hoenemeyer will prosecute the case.
The outcome of this case may have implications for how produce companies verify orders and payments in future transactions.
