Richard Best, Theft, California 2017

Fresno, California - In a shocking case of corporate greed and deception, Richard Best, 68, of Fresno, and Shawn Sawa, 46, formerly of Clovis, have been charged with conspiracy and wire fraud for stealing nearly $5 million in livestock feed ingredients. The indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on an unspecified date, alleges that Best and Sawa carried out the scheme through Best’s now defunct train-to-truck transloading company, Richard Best Transfer Inc. (RBT).

According to court documents, from 2015 through 2017, Best and Sawa stole $4.8 million worth of canola used in cow feed from international food processors. They then sold the canola for a windfall. Best and Sawa sold the stolen canola through an acquaintance in Texas who used to work in the livestock feed industry. The acquaintance sold the stolen canola to farms and dairies, and distributed the proceeds according to Best’s instructions.

Throughout the scheme, Best and Sawa caused RBT to send fraudulent inventory reports to the victims representing that RBT had certain amounts of their canola in-stock when, in fact, RBT had significantly lesser amounts. Whenever the victims began to make inquiries about missing canola, Best and Sawa told them it had been destroyed by bad weather when it had actually been stolen.

Best and Sawa used the proceeds from the scheme to cover RBT’s operating expenses, purchase luxury homes and multiple vehicles, take trips, and hire private karate teachers, among other expenses. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Best and Sawa face maximum statutory penalties of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the conspiracy and wire fraud counts. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The indictment highlights the brazen nature of the scheme, which involved the theft of hundreds of thousands of tons of canola and other commodities from international food processors. The case is a stark reminder of the importance of corporate accountability and the need for law enforcement to hold individuals and companies responsible for their actions.

The indictment has been met with shock and outrage from the community, with many calling for tougher laws and stricter regulations to prevent similar schemes in the future. As this case continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the public will be watching closely to see justice served.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/central-valley-corporate-insider-and-small-business-owner-indicted-stealing-nearly-5