Florida Man Arrested After Elaborate Scheme To Steal Over $600k Worth Of Potatoes And Onions: Cops

A Florida man has been arrested for allegedly stealing complete half a cardinal dollars' worthy of potatoes and onions, according to national prosecutors.

Jason Canals, 39, has been accused of moving aggregate schemes to defraud wholesale nutrient companies, prosecutors said while confirming nan apprehension connected March 10.

In 1 specified scheme, Canals allegedly utilized a company’s sanction and email signature to petition shipments of nutrient without permission.

When nan shipments were en route, Canals abruptly diverted nan delivery distant from nan company’s premises to a caller location of his choosing. It’s not clear how, but Canals was capable to debar paying nan wholesalers for nan product.

Canals has besides been accused of giving falsified documents to unfortunate companies arsenic portion of a abstracted scheme. The documents would make it look arsenic though he had prepaid for nutrient erstwhile nary costs had really been made.

The alleged schemes resulted successful losses of complete $600,000 for nan victimized companies, including costs for nan produce and its transportation.

The fishy now faces 8 charges of interstate carrier of stolen property. If recovered blameworthy connected each counts, he faces a maximum condemnation of 10 years successful a national prison.

Prosecutors added that nan investigation remains ongoing, pinch nan US Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General and nan FBI conducting nan probe.

The announcement comes weeks aft a Florida man was arrested for allegedly using taco seasoning packets to steal thousands of dollars’ worthy of trading cards from Target.

Keith Wallis, 39, was taken into custody aft allegedly carrying retired 75 thefts astatine Target locations. The stores were located crossed Florida, from Orlando to Miami.

According to a press release from Attorney General James Uthmeier, nan drawstring of thefts occurred betwixt July 2025 and February 2026.

In his alleged scheme, Wallis would prime ample boxes of trading cards on pinch nan 99-cent seasoning packets. Then he would caput to nan self-checkouts and salary only for nan seasoning packets.

Authorities declare that Wallis would waste nan stolen trading cards connected eBay. The strategy allegedly generated astir $40,000 successful revenue.

Wallis now faces charges including 2 counts of felony organized unit theft, 3 counts of felony dealing successful stolen spot and 1 count of felony money laundering.

If recovered guilty, Wallis could look a situation condemnation of up to 90 years.

The Independent has contacted nan USDA and nan FBI for comment.