Man indicted for bad check trucking scheme that cost Connecticut wholesale food suppliers hundreds of thousands

A Connecticut man was accused of defrauding wholesale food companies out of hundreds of thousands dollars through a trucking scheme.

A federal grand jury in Hartford has returned a 10-count indictment charging Michael Salvaggi, 61, with eight counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of interstate transport of property taken by fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced on June 4.

Officials said that Salvaggi contacted Connecticut wholesale food suppliers representing himself as the owner of trucking and wholesale food businesses in various names, including “A.J. Produce LLC,” “Express Transportation,” “Salvaggi Brothers Trucking,” and “Express Fresh Produce & Dairy.”

Salvaggi allegedly arranged to purchase loads of food product on credit and then to pay on delivery or pickup.

After receiving the food, Salvaggi paid with fraudulent checks, officials said.

“Numerous wholesale food companies suffered total losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars are a result of this scheme,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Salvaggi has been in custody since March 7, 2026, when he was arrested in St. John’s County, Florida.

Wire fraud and mail fraud carry a maximum sentence of 20 years on each count. Interstate transport of property taken by fraud carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.