Oliver Schmidt (engineer)

Last updated
Oliver Schmidt
Born (1969-01-09) January 9, 1969 (age 55)
Stadthagen, West Germany
NationalityGerman
Alma mater Leibniz University of Hannover (Diploma)
Occupation(s)Engineer, former business executive
Criminal statusInmate 09786-104; released from FCI Milan in September 2020; transferred to German custody where he was ultimately released in January 2021
Spouse
Kerstin Gerdes
​
​
(m. 2000)​
Children2
Conviction(s) December 6, 2017;6 years ago (2017-12-06)
Criminal penalty84 months (7 years) imprisonment, $400,000 fine and deportation to Germany
Date apprehended
January 11, 2017;7 years ago (2017-01-11)
Imprisoned at Federal Correctional Institution, Milan, Milan, Michigan, U.S.

Oliver Schmidt (born January 9, 1969) [1] [2] is a German engineer, former senior executive for Volkswagen in Germany and the United States as well as a convicted felon. In December 2017, Schmidt was sentenced to 84 months (7 years) in federal prison for his role in the Volkswagen emissions scandal. [3] He was the second German national, after James Robert Liang, to be convicted and sees himself as pawn sacrifice in the entire case. [4] [5]

Contents

Early life and education

Schmidt was born January 9, 1969, in Stadthagen, Lower Saxony then West Germany to Dieter and Elke Schmidt. [6] [7] His father worked for a software company and enjoyed mechanically working on cars, therefore Schmidt was basically growing-up with up to 26 different cars his father has owned throughout his lifetime. [8] After completing his Abitur, he studied mechanical engineering at the Leibniz University of Hannover in Hannover, Germany. [9] [10]

Career

Since 1997, Schmidt was employed with Volkswagen in Wolfsburg. [11] At the age of 35, Schmidt was transferred to the United States, where he from 2012 oversaw VW's emissions office in Michigan. [11] [12]

As of March 2022, Schmidt is employed in a CNC-Engineering company of a friend, which primarily manufactures auto parts. [13]

Volkswagen emissions scandal

In January 2017 while attempting to return to Germany after a vacation, Schmidt was arrested in a men's room at a Florida airport, charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States in the Volkswagen emissions scandal. [14] Had Schmidt been able to board a plane and return to Germany, the chances of him being prosecuted would have been slim as it is unlikely that Germany would have extradited one of its own citizens to stand trial in the United States. [15] In December 2017, having earlier pleaded guilty, a federal judge in Detroit sentenced him to seven years in prison and fined him $400,000. [12]

Schmidt was inmate number 09786-104 and was incarcerated at U.S. Federal prison FCI Milan in York Township, Michigan. His release date was set for 25 December 2022. [16] In late September 2020, Schmidt was transferred to Germany where he was incarcerated at Hanover Correctional Center. In January 2021, he was released on parole after serving a bit more than half his sentence. [17]

Personal life

In 2000, Schmidt married Kerstin Gerdes, in Florida, and they have two children. [18] [19]

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References

  1. ↑ "FBI arrests Volkswagen executive Oliver Schmidt for fraud over Dieselgate emissions scandal". www.carbuyingtips.com. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  2. ↑ Florida Booking Records
  3. ↑ "Volkswagen Senior Manager Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for Role in Conspiracy to Cheat U.S. Emissions Tests". www.justice.gov. 2017-12-06. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  4. ↑ "Volkswagen Engineer Sentenced for His Role in Conspiracy to Cheat U.S. Emissions Tests". www.justice.gov. 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  5. ↑ "Ex-VW Manager Released Early From Diesel-Rigging Prison Term". Bloomberg.com. 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  6. ↑ Werner, Kathrin. "VW-Manager muss in den USA sieben Jahre in Haft". Süddeutsche.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  7. ↑ Court Correspondence https://s3-prod-europe.autonews.com/s3fs-public/CA10924833.PDF
  8. ↑ Alte Schule, Folge 174 mit Oliver Schmidt 1/2 (der Podcast) , retrieved 2023-05-11
  9. ↑ https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/portraet-schmidt-101.html
  10. ↑ Budras, Corinna. "Was der verhaftete VW-Manager Oliver Schmidt mit dem Dieselskandal zu tun hat". FAZ.NET (in German). ISSN   0174-4909 . Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  11. 1 2 Ganslmeier, Martin (2017-12-06). "Oliver Schmidt - Der VW-Sündenbock" [Oliver Schmidt - The VW Scapegoat]. tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-05-13.
  12. 1 2 Rushe, Dominic (2017-12-06). "Oliver Schmidt jailed for seven years for Volkswagen emissions scam". guardian.com . Retrieved 2018-05-13.
  13. ↑ Autoline After Hours 592, Min: 35:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IV-SFS15M8
  14. ↑ "VW Executive Oliver Schmidt Sentenced to 7 Years for Dieselgate". Forbes .
  15. ↑ "Oliver Schmidt jailed for seven years for Volkswagen emissions scam". TheGuardian.com . 6 December 2017.
  16. ↑ "BOP: Federal Inmates by Name".
  17. ↑ "Ex-VW Manager Released Early from Diesel-Rigging Prison Term". Bloomberg.com. 20 January 2021.
  18. ↑ Özgenc, Kayhan (2020-10-19). "Ex-Top-Manager Oliver Schmidt zurück in Deutschland: Das "Bauernopfer" des Dieselskandals war so loyal, dass er sogar in einem VW-Autohaus heiratete". Business Insider (in German). Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  19. ↑ https://s3-prod-europe.autonews.com/s3fs-public/CA10924833.PDF
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