Kingsley contractor faces four more fraud counts in Grand Traverse County

The fraud case against Kingsley contractor Travis Reimer has widened to six counts across two counties, with Grand Traverse County prosecutors adding four new charges to earlier Benzie County allegations. Investigators say Reimer accepted more than $400,000 from homeowners across northern Michigan, then failed to pay subcontractors and diverted money for personal use.

Michigan State Police troopers began investigating on Oct. 23, 2024, after reports tied Reimer to home additions and other construction work in Benzie, Grand Traverse and Antrim counties. Prosecutors and troopers allege that while some subcontractors completed parts of the jobs, Reimer did not use the contract funds as promised. The new Grand Traverse County charges followed his arrest Jan. 28 in Benzie County, where he was arraigned the next day on two counts of contractor fraud.

Reimer turned himself in at the Grand Traverse County Jail on April 7 and was arraigned that same day in 86th District Court on the four additional counts. He is due back in Grand Traverse County court on April 21 at 2 p.m. The case now spans two counties and carries a broader warning for anyone in Grand Traverse County planning a repair, remodel or build: Michigan law treats building-contract payments as trust funds for the person paying, workers, subcontractors and material suppliers, and using those funds before paying laborers or suppliers can be evidence of intent to defraud.

For homeowners, the alleged pattern points to the kinds of problems that can cascade fast: unfinished work, unpaid subcontractors, mechanic’s liens and the cost of hiring someone else to fix or finish a job. Renters and landlords can also get caught in the fallout when contractors walk off a project, leaving damaged property, open permits or disputes over who is responsible for the repairs. The impact can reach beyond one job site, because unpaid subcontractors may have to chase payment through civil claims or other available remedies.

Michigan State Police are urging anyone who believes they may have been affected to contact the Traverse City Post at 231-938-0714. The department’s Fraud Investigation Section assists state and local agencies with fraud and identity-theft cases and can connect victims with resources as the investigation continues.

Before hiring anyone for a home project, state and federal consumer agencies say to get multiple written estimates, check licenses, references and insurance, and contact your insurer before work starts. Sign a written contract before paying, and be wary of cash or wire transfer demands, vague scopes of work, requests for large upfront deposits and promises that sound rushed or too good to be true.