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Florida Man Charged With Diverting $600,000 in Onions and Potatoes Across State Lines

Prosecutors describe a scheme that impersonated a buyer to reroute in-transit shipments without payment.

Overview

  • Jason Canals, 39, was arrested on March 10 in Florida and charged with eight counts of interstate transport of stolen property.
  • Investigators say he used a real company’s name and email signature to place wholesale orders, then redirected truckloads to new locations without paying.
  • Prosecutors also allege he supplied falsified paperwork that made vendors believe orders were prepaid.
  • Authorities estimate losses at more than $600,000 including produce and transportation, and the indictment seeks forfeiture of proceeds traceable to the offenses.
  • The USDA Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated, the case is in the Middle District of Florida with Assistant U.S. Attorney Merrilyn E. Hoenemeyer, and a conviction could carry up to 10 years in federal prison.