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Man Sentenced To 5 Years For Plotting To Harm Ex-Lover's Fiancé

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Farming Township man is sentenced to five years in prison Friday for devising a plot to harm his former lover's fiancé, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Authorities say Robert James Schueller, 30, pleaded guilty to sending threatening communication on May 26. U.S. District Judge Richard H. Kyle sentenced him to five years in prison Friday morning in St. Paul.

According to court documents, Schueller was married, and the vice president of Nomad Pipeline, when he had an extra-marital affair with an employee of Nomad's sister company. Eventually the woman ended the affair, and three months later, Schueller learned that she was in a relationship with another man.

Attorneys say Schueller then began trying to win back the woman's affection, but was unsuccessful. Court documents show Schueller soon began plotting to get the woman's new love interest away from her.

According to the Schueller's guilty plea, filed in court, in February 2014 Schueller called a coworker who had been to prison, asking if he had any contacts that could help him make a man "go away."

Over the course of several months, the two stayed in communication until the coworker provided Schueller with the name of a man who could help, according to Schueller's guilty plea filed in court. Schueller gave the coworker $10,000 and a business card, to give to the possible hit man. Eventually, the coworker told Schueller he was unable to help and returned the money. Schueller told him to burn the business card.

Schueller later told attorneys he attempted contacting several other coworkers, looking for help in harming his former lover's fiancé. He even posted an ad on Craigslist, looking to hire another woman to seduce the fiancé and get between the two.

He eventually pleaded guilty to one count of threats transmitted by interstate communication.

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