Distributor ordered to pay $105.5 million to Cargill for billing fraud

A federal judge in North Carolina has ordered the owners of a warehouse and distribution company to pay $105.5 million to Cargill Inc. after a jury found they fraudulently overcharged the agricultural giant. In its complaint against WDS Inc. and owners Jennifer Maier and Brian Ewert, Cargill accused the defendants of directing employees to mark up pricing on purchase order requests beyond what the parties had agreed upon, over a period of many years. Cargill contracted with WDS for warehousing and distribution of products including film, wrap, trays and spices provided by third-party vendors.