A U.S. Justice Department logo or seal showing Justice Department headquarters, known as "Main Justice," is seen behind the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the Attorney General in Washington, January 24, 2023. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
- Shawn Sawa, formerly of Clovis, was sentenced to 18 months for role in $4.8 million canola theft scheme.
- Scheme involved fraudulent inventory reports and stolen canola sold through a Texas livestock-feed contact.
- Co-defendant Richard Best pleaded guilty and faces up to 20 years; sentencing set March 2026.
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A former Clovis corporate manager was sentenced Monday to 18 months in federal prison for helping steal nearly $5 million worth of canola used in livestock feed from international food processors, federal prosecutors said.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 49-year-old Shawn Sawa was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston after admitting his role in a years-long fraud scheme that ran from 2015 to 2017 and moved millions of dollars in stolen commodities through a now-defunct Central Valley transloading company.
Prosecutors said Sawa and co-defendant Richard Best stole $4.8 million worth of canola through Best’s business, Richard Best Transfer Inc., which transferred commodities between trains and trucks. As Fresno area manager for one of the victim food processors, Sawa helped route canola to the company and initially received kickbacks before the pair began stealing large volumes outright.
Sold Stolen Canola Through Texas Acquaintance
The two sold the stolen canola through a Texas acquaintance who previously worked in the livestock-feed industry, investigators said. Proceeds were distributed per Best’s instructions, including wire transfers to Sawa, Best, and RBT’s bank accounts. Sawa used an account opened in his spouse’s name to hide the payments.
Federal prosecutors said the men also sent fraudulent inventory reports to victim companies, inflating the amount of canola they claimed to have on hand. They used scheme proceeds to buy luxury homes, vehicles, take trips, hire private karate instructors, and cover RBT’s operating expenses.
Shortly before the fraud was uncovered, Best gave Sawa an old cellphone that had belonged to Best’s late mother so they could secretly communicate, fearing Sawa’s employer was monitoring his company-issued devices, according to court documents.
Best pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, just weeks before his trial was set to begin. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 2, 2026, and faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, though the court will determine the final sentence under federal guidelines.
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