GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — A Kingsley man who was arrested for contractor fraud in January 2026 is now formally charged with four counts of contractor fraud fraudulent use of building contract funds.
According to Michigan State Police, Travis Reimer, 55, was arrested on January 28 after a police investigation revealed that he had done more than $400,000 worth of home additions and construction projects and failed to pay subcontractors who helped complete some of the work.
Troopers said Reimer instead used the money for personal gain.
Following a formal review, the Benzie County Prosecuting Office authorized a warrant for his arrest.
Reimer was then arraigned on January 29 in the 85th District Court on two counts of contractor fraud, fraudulent use of building contract funds.
The Grand Traverse Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Reimer with four counts of contractor…
PROCUREMENT & EXPENDITURE (STOPPING KICKBACKS)
Procurement fraud usually involves inflated invoices or “fictitious” vendors.
- The Three-Way Match: Never pay an invoice unless you have matched the Purchase Order (PO), the Delivery Note (signed), and the Supplier Invoice.
- Vendor Master File Review: Review your vendor list annually. Look for suppliers with the same bank details or physical addresses as your employees.
- Dual Authorization: Implement a “Two-to-Sign” rule for all EFT payments above a certain threshold (e.g., R5,000).
- No “Cashing” of Checks: If you still use physical checks, strictly prohibit “Cash” as a payee and store blank checks in a dual-lock safe.