Florida man accused of stealing more than $600K worth of onions and potatoes

TAMPA, Fla. —

A Florida man could face up to 10 years in federal prison for alleged schemes to defraud wholesale produce companies, resulting in more than $600,ooo in losses of products such as onions and potatoes.

Jason Canals, a 39-year-old man out of Spring Hill, was arrested and faces eight counts of interstate transport of stolen property.

According to the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, in one scheme, Canals used a company's name and email signature block to send messages to victim companies requesting produce.

Canals reportedly diverted the produce to a new location while shipments were en route and never paid the companies.

In another scheme, Canals gave companies false documentation that led them to believe he had prepaid for the produce, when he had not.

According to officials, the $600,000 loss for the companies is the total between the cost of the produce and its transportation.

The indictment also stated that the United States intends to forefeit the proceeds that are traceable to the offenses.

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