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Florida Man Faces Federal Charges in Onion Cargo Theft
Allegedly Defrauded Wholesale Produce Companies in Idaho, Washington, Michigan, Texas, Georgia
Key Takeaways:
- A Florida man was arrested March 10 and charged federally with eight counts of interstate transport of stolen property for allegedly diverting onion and potato shipments to Florida.
- Prosecutors said Jason Anthony Canals used stolen email identities and fake payment documents to defraud nine produce companies, causing more than $600,000 in produce and transportation losses.
- The case is under investigation by the USDA Office of Inspector General and the FBI, with forfeiture sought and no trial date set as of April 13.
A Florida man is facing federal charges for allegedly using a company’s email and signature block to steal and divert multiple onion shipments worth thousands of dollars.
Jason Anthony Canals, 39, was arrested March 10 and charged with eight counts of interstate transport of stolen property in the U.S. District Court’s Middle District of Florida.
A seven-page indictment details how Canals allegedly defrauded nine wholesale produce companies.
He is accused of running two types of agricultural cargo swindles that purportedly sent more than half a million dollars of yellow and red onions, as well as potatoes, to Florida.
“In one scheme, Canals, without permission, used a company’s name and email signature block to send communications to victim companies requesting produce. While the shipments were en route, Canals diverted the produce to a new location and never paid the victim companies,” alleged the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
In total, produce and transportation costs resulted in losses of more than $600,000 to the victim companies, noted the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Canals is accused of knowingly and intentionally transporting, and causing to be transported, in interstate commerce produce that was stolen, converted and taken by fraud.
U.S.A. vs. Jason Anthony Canals
He is facing four charges dating from August to September 2024 for purportedly misusing the emails from one company, No. 1, to cause:
- Company No. 2 to transport $13,152 worth of red and yellow onions from Idaho to Florida
- Company No. 3 to ship yellow onions valued at $18,855 from Michigan to Florida
- Company No. 4 to send $12,180 in yellow onions from Georgia to Florida
- Company No. 5 to transport $28,216 worth of red and yellow onions from Texas to Florida
In a different scheme involving stolen onions and potatoes, Canals allegedly sent three victim companies false documentation that conned them into believing he had prepaid for the cargo without making any payments.
This separate cargo theft operation purportedly occurred between September 2024 and August 2025. As with the other counts, Canals is accused of causing:
- Company No. 7 to transport two yellow onion shipments worth $8,857 from Washington to Florida
- Company No. 8 to ship $10,584 in russet potatoes from Idaho to Florida
- Company No. 9 to transport onions valued at $11,120 from Idaho to Florida
The indictment accused Canals of perpetrating the scheme by initially paying the victim companies for the first shipment “as a means of building trust.”
He allegedly sent false and fraudulent electronic documentation regarding payments for other shipments “to induce the victim companies to transport produce in interstate commerce. Once Canals obtained possession of the produce, he failed to pay for the items and the transportation of the items,” the indictment alleged.
Federal prosecutors are seeking to have the defendant forfeit any property, real or personal, that constitutes or was gained from the proceeds of the crimes if he is convicted.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI.
Canals faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts. The last court action in this case was entered April 13. No trial date has been set.
