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Former Polar Air Cargo exec pleads guilty to swindling
来源：shippingazette 编辑：编辑部 发布：2023/11/09 09:00:22
POLAR Air Cargo former executive Robert Schirmer has admitted guilt in a case involving defrauding the company by unlawfully accepting kickbacks from vendors in exchange for favourable contracts, preferred shipping rates, priority cargo space on company aircraft, and other perks, reports New York's FreightWaves.
Mr Schirmer, 58, held the position of senior director of customer service for the Americas at Polar Air Cargo.
He entered a guilty plea in the US district court for the Southern District of New York, facing one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and another fraud charge, down from his original four charges.
Mr Schirmer's plea carries a potential maximum prison sentence of five years.
Additionally, he has agreed to forfeit more than US$983,000 and to repay Polar Air Cargo an amount totaling $9.3 million.
The sentencing for Schirmer will be determined by US district judge Jesse Furman during a hearing scheduled for February 13.
The Department of Justice had indicted Schirmer and nine co-defendants in April for their involvement in a corruption scheme that resulted in $52 million in losses for Polar Air Cargo over a decade.
One of the central figures in this corruption scheme is former COO Lars Winkelbauer.
Mr Winkelbauer had held various leadership roles at DHL and Polar Air Cargo for over 16 years and was apprehended in Thailand and subsequently extradited to the United States.
Polar Air Cargo is a joint venture between all-cargo airline Atlas Air and the parcel delivery giant DHL Express.
Atlas Air manages the aircraft, with most of the cargo space designated for DHL, which determines the flight network. Atlas markets the remaining capacity to freight forwarders.
The airline's fleet comprises 15 large Boeing cargo jets, including six 747-8s, two 767-300s, and seven 777s.
Mr Schirmer, 58, held the position of senior director of customer service for the Americas at Polar Air Cargo.
He entered a guilty plea in the US district court for the Southern District of New York, facing one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and another fraud charge, down from his original four charges.
Mr Schirmer's plea carries a potential maximum prison sentence of five years.
Additionally, he has agreed to forfeit more than US$983,000 and to repay Polar Air Cargo an amount totaling $9.3 million.
The sentencing for Schirmer will be determined by US district judge Jesse Furman during a hearing scheduled for February 13.
The Department of Justice had indicted Schirmer and nine co-defendants in April for their involvement in a corruption scheme that resulted in $52 million in losses for Polar Air Cargo over a decade.
One of the central figures in this corruption scheme is former COO Lars Winkelbauer.
Mr Winkelbauer had held various leadership roles at DHL and Polar Air Cargo for over 16 years and was apprehended in Thailand and subsequently extradited to the United States.
Polar Air Cargo is a joint venture between all-cargo airline Atlas Air and the parcel delivery giant DHL Express.
Atlas Air manages the aircraft, with most of the cargo space designated for DHL, which determines the flight network. Atlas markets the remaining capacity to freight forwarders.
The airline's fleet comprises 15 large Boeing cargo jets, including six 747-8s, two 767-300s, and seven 777s.