MINNESOTA – A businessman charged in a murder-for-hire plot targeting the fiance of his former lover.
Robert James Schueller, 29, is charged with the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.
“This defendant is charged with orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Allyn.
Adding “Fortunately for the intended victim in this case, the contract killing was never carried out. The FBI and Stearns County Sheriff’s Office pursued diligently this investigation, and we are grateful for their successful efforts to keep Minnesotans safe from violence.”
According to the complaint, Schueller is the President of Nomad Pipeline Services or Nomad.
Between approximately May 2013 and August 2013, Schueller, who is married, was engaged in an extramarital affair with R.T., then an employee of Nomad.
About three months after R.T. ended the relationship with Schueller, he learned that R.T. was in a relationship with C.A.
Schueller subsequently tried to reignite the relationship with R.T., but was rebuffed.
These are the other facts and circumstances surrounding this case, according to authorities:
- On February 6, Schueller contacted another employee of Nomad, W.E.
- Schueller knew W.E. had several prior felony convictions and had served time in prison.
- He asked if W.E. maintained contact with anyone from prison. When W.E. answered in the affirmative, Schueller told W.E that he wanted to hire someone to murder C.A.
- On February 13, W.E. pretended to have identified a former prison associate who may be willing to murder C.A. for Schueller.
- Sometime in March 2014, Schueller sent a package to W.E. containing $10,000 in cash and two of his own business cards, on which he had written C.A.’s name and information about where C.A. worked.
- On May 2, W.E. called Schueller and told him that he was unable to find someone to carry out the murder.
- After the phone call, Schueller texted W.E., “burn those business cards.” W.E. subsequently returned the $10,000 to Schueller.
- The affidavit said Schueller called and texted W.E. throughout February, March and April to check on his progress.
- On Feb. 13, Schueller sent a text asking if W.E. had heard back from any of his “connections.”
- W.E. responded with a phone call, pretending he’d spoken with a potential hit man in what he later told law enforcement was an effort to stall Schueller. He didn’t want to orchestrate the murder, he said, but also didn’t want to say no to his boss, according to the affidavit.