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. 64-year-old Louis R. Ross who was in charge of real estate for Aldi’s O’Fallon, Missouri, division, worked with 73-year-oldd contractor Donald E. Schniers to submit fake bids and invoices to make sure Schniers won the contracts to build or renovate Aldi storesacross southern Illinois and eastern Missouri.  In exchange, Schniers and an unnamed third conspirator paid Ross $1.4 million in kickbacks.  Ross was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison. Schniers to three years of probation. Both men were ordered to pay $2.8 million in restitution.