The duo sold the ill-gotten goods to a Texas contact, who further distributed the cow feed to farms and dairies. Proceeds from these sales were surreptitiously channeled back to Best and Sawa’s bank accounts. To cloak their activities, Sawa deceptively listed his spouse as the account holder.
Financing a Lavish Lifestyle
The U.S. Department of Justice asserted that the stolen funds were lavishly spent on luxury homes, cars, extravagant trips, and private karate lessons. The duo’s audacious spending spree was fueled by the proceeds from their illicit activities.
Stealing $4.8M Of Cow Feed For Luxury Buys: Deceptive Tactics Unveiled
To perpetuate their scheme, Best and Sawa employed fraudulent inventory reports, misrepresenting the amount of canola in their possession to the food processors. The Justice Department emphasized that these misleading reports played a pivotal role in maintaining contracts with the processors, thus delaying the discovery of their thefts.
Moreover, when inquiries arose about the missing canola, the pair resorted to outright lies. They falsely claimed that the canola had been destroyed by adverse weather conditions, deflecting suspicion and prolonging their criminal enterprise.
Pending Charges Against Co-Conspirator
While Sawa has accepted responsibility for his actions, charges against Richard Best are pending and remain mere allegations, according to the DOJ statement. Legal counsel for both defendants has not yet provided a response to media inquiries.
Stealing $4.8M Of Cow Feed For Luxury Buys: Legal Landscape
Sawa is represented by Mark W. Coleman of the Law Office of Mark W. Coleman, while Best is represented by Jeffrey T. Hammerschmidt of Hammerschmidt Law Corporation. Joseph Barton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California represents the government in this high-profile case.
