Louis R. Ross Sr., 64, of St. Louis, a former ALDI executive, and Donald E. Schniers, 73, a general contractor from Breese, Illinois, have been sentenced for their roles in a scheme that defrauded ALDI out of more than $2.8 million, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Illinois announced today.
Ross, the former Director of Real Estate for ALDI’s O’Fallon, Missouri, Division, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay over $2.8 million in restitution.
Schniers, owner of C. Juengel Company, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. He was sentenced to three years of probation and was also ordered to pay more than $2.8 million in restitution.
“As a trusted executive, Louis Ross exploited his position to personally profit by rigging the bid process, granting projects to Donald Schniers’ construction company and ultimately defrauding ALDI out of millions of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe in a statement.
“To protect the integrity of the construction bidding process and strengthen consumer protections, I appreciate our partnership with the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to secure justice.”