Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Friday, July 25, 2008

Grocery owner charged with selling stolen fruit

BROOKFIELD, Wis. (AP) — Shoppers at an upscale grocery store in suburban Milwaukee may have been buying stolen goods.

A criminal complaint charges V. Richards owner John Nehring and a produce manager with buying stolen fruit from a Tropic Banana delivery driver and selling it in the Brookfield store.

The complaint states the two men placed orders for specific fruit with the driver. Tropic Banana says the two bought stolen pineapple, peaches and apples worth $20,000.

But Nehring's attorney, John Schiro, said he never bought stolen fruit and Tropic Banana is trying to extort him.

The delivery driver accused of providing the fruit has not been charged.

Nehring and his family also own two upscale Milwaukee markets — G. Groppi Food Market and Sendik's on Oakland.

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