Florida Trucker Charged in $600K Produce Cargo Diversion Scheme

Key Details Jason Anthony Canals, 39, was arrested March 10 and faces eight federal counts of interstate transport of stolen property. The Florida man allegedly defrauded nine wholesale produce companies through two separate cargo theft schemes involving onions and potatoes worth more than $600,000 in total losses. How the Fraud Worked In the first scheme, Canals illegally used a company's name and email signature to request produce shipments from victim companies. While cargo traveled interstate, he diverted shipments to new locations and never paid the suppliers. The second scheme involved sending false payment documentation to trick companies into believing prepayment had been made. Scope of Losses Canals allegedly stole shipments between August 2024 and August 2025. Victim companies lost thousands per shipment - ranging from $8,857 to $28,216 per load. He initially made legitimate payments on early shipments to build trust before escalating the fraud. Why It Matters This case highlights supply chain vulnerabilities for produce companies and brokers. Drivers and logistics professionals should recognize these email impersonation tactics and verify shipper credentials independently, especially when diversion requests occur during transit.