Richard Best, 72, of Fresno, California, was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $2 million in restitution for his role in a fraud scheme that stole millions of dollars’ worth of canola (used to make livestock feed) from international food processors, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“Richard Best treated the agricultural supply chain as his personal inventory, stealing nearly $5 million worth of canola oil for his personal gain,” Grant said. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who commit fraud in our agricultural markets will be found and prosecuted. We remain committed to protecting the integrity of our markets and the businesses that play by the rules.”
According to court documents, from 2015 through 2017, Best and Shawn Sawa, 49, formerly of Clovis, stole $4.8 million worth of canola from international food processors. They then sold the canola for a windfall. Best pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, 2025. Sawa pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Dec. 8, 2025, to 18 months in prison…