EAST ST. LOUIS — A federal judge sentenced a former Aldi executive and an Illinois-based general contractor last week for their roles in a $2.8 million fraud scheme.
ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë R. Ross, 64, who was in charge of real estate for Aldi's O'Fallon division, worked with contractor Donald E. Schniers, 73, to submit fake bids and invoices to make sure Schniers won the contracts to build or renovate Aldis across southern Illinois and eastern Missouri.
In exchange, Schniers and an unnamed third conspirator paid Ross $1.4 million in kickbacks, court documents say.
"As a trusted executive, ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Ross exploited his position to personally profit," U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe said in a statement. "I appreciate our partnership with the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to secure justice."
Ross, of St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë, was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison. Schniers, of Breese, Illinois, was sentenced to three years of probation. Both men were ordered to pay $2.8 million in restitution.