A Central Valley crops industry insider has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a multi-year scheme that stole nearly $5 million worth of canola from international food processors.
Shawn Sawa, 49, formerly of Clovis, received an 18-month prison sentence after admitting to participating in a fraud operation that diverted canola shipments between 2015 and 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
How the Scheme Operated
Investigators found that Sawa worked with Richard Best, owner of the now-defunct Richard Best Transfer Inc. (RBT), a train-to-truck transloading company responsible for moving bulk commodities.
Food processors shipped large volumes of canola to RBT for redistribution. Instead of transferring full loads, Sawa and Best removed and sold significant portions of the product, ultimately stealing approximately $4.8 million worth of canola…