Robert Schirmer, Defrauding Employer, New York 2024

Grimy Times can exclusively report that Robert Schirmer, a senior executive at Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc., has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud.

According to the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, Schirmer admitted his guilt in a scheme to defraud his employer that lasted over a decade. The scheme involved kickbacks from vendors and customers, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in revenue loss for Polar Air Cargo.

The indictment alleges that Schirmer and nine other individuals participated in the massive scheme, which led to pervasive corruption of Polar’s business operations. The fraud involved a substantial portion of Polar’s senior management and at least 10 customers and vendors of the company.

As a result of the scheme, Schirmer and his codefendants received unlawful payments in excess of approximately $23 million. Schirmer also agreed to pay forfeiture in the amount of $983,759.32 and to make restitution to Polar in the amount of $9,340,729.

Schirmer, 58, of Port Jefferson Station, New York, is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman on February 13, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. The maximum potential sentence is five years in prison.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Reilly, Danielle Kudla, Kevin Mead, and Qais Ghafary are in charge of the prosecution.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations in uncovering the massive scheme.

The scheme’s impact on Polar Air Cargo’s operations and employees is still being felt. The company has yet to comment on the matter. However, the guilty plea by Schirmer marks a significant milestone in the ongoing investigation into corporate fraud.

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