Van Buren County, MI
01/10/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/11/2025 14:34
Van Buren County Sheriff News Release - Contractor Fraud and Unlicensed Residential Builder
Nature of Incident:
Contractor Fraud and Unlicensed Residential Builder
Incident Number:
#24010063
Date, Time, and Venue:
Complaint number #24010063 was reported on 08/14/2024 was reported to have taken place in the 64000 block of Westwood Dr in Antwerp Twp
Suspect Info:
Gordon Leighton 58yr old male from the Lawton Area
Warrant Info:
Count 1: Felony Contractor-Fraud
Count 2: Misdemeanor Unlicensed Residential Builder
Narrative:
Sheriff Daniel E. Abbott reports that a man has been operating without a license and has been investigated for contractor fraud in Van Buren County. The Road Patrol Division has been working alongside with the Criminal Investigation Division and has gotten charges authorized on a local builder.
This incident was originally reported back in August of 2024. The victims came forward with concerns in regard to who they hired to rebuild their home that had been destroyed in a fire. The victim had received a payout from their insurance company and had paid Leighton to build their family a new home back in November of 2022. The family has been renting an apartment during the alleged rebuild.
The family has been renting an apartment for nearly 2 years awaiting the construction of their new home. Leighton had started the construction, pouring the foundation, in January of 2023. The last time any work was done was in October of 2023. The home has stood as just a stick frame house with no siding or interior work being completed. The family is out over $95,000 of the remaining construction which they have already paid for.
During the investigation it was found that Leighton was operating without a license and had been moving funds around from other jobs to cover the costs on other constructions. This does not appear to be an isolated incident and the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office expects more victims to come forward.