Shawn Sawa, 49, formerly of Clovis, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for orchestrating a fraud scheme that stole millions of dollars' worth of canola from international food processors, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
From 2015 through 2017, Sawa and co-defendant Richard Best systematically stole $4.8 million worth of canola destined for livestock feed production. As the Fresno area manager for one of the victim food processors, Sawa had direct access to supply chains and inventory information—a position he exploited for personal gain.
How the scheme worked
The pair operated through Best's transloading company, Richard Best Transfer Inc., which legitimately transferred commodities between transportation modes. Victim food processors sent hundreds of thousands of tons of canola to RBT for delivery to customers, unaware that Sawa and Best were diverting significant quantities.
They sold the stolen canola through a Texas acquaintance with livestock feed industry connections, who distributed it to farms and dairies. Sawa and Best used fraudulent inventory reports to conceal the theft, falsely representing stock levels to victim processors. Proceeds flowed through bank accounts opened in Sawa's spouse's name to hide the scheme.
Luxury purchases and attempted concealment
The stolen proceeds funded luxury homes, multiple vehicles, private karate instruction and travel. As discovery loomed, Best gave Sawa an old cellphone belonging to his deceased mother to secretly communicate, fearing the victim processor was monitoring company devices.
Co-defendant Richard Best pleaded guilty Oct. 14, 2025, and faces sentencing March 2, 2026, with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
