A longtime Kingsley contractor is at the center of a sprawling criminal case that now stretches across three Northern Michigan counties, with investigators saying nearly $1 million in losses may be tied to his work on local homes.
Prosecutors in Benzie, Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties are all involved after a Michigan State Police investigation, launched in October 2024, zeroed in on renovation projects from 2017 to the present.
Travis Reimer, 55, of Kingsley, was first arrested on Jan. 28 and arraigned Jan. 29 in Benzie County on two counts of contractor fraud after prosecutors authorized a warrant following a review of the state police probe. According to CBS Detroit, investigators say homeowners paid Reimer more than $400,000 over the years for home additions and other projects, and that subcontractors who completed some of the work were left unpaid.
In April, the Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office approved four additional counts. Reimer turned himself in to the Grand Traverse County Jail on April 7, was arraigned and then posted bond. 9&10 News reports he faced a probable-cause conference and further court appearances as the multi-county probe widened.
Leelanau County prosecutors later filed a single contractor-fraud charge, and Reimer was arraigned there on April 14. Bond in that case was set at $15,000, or 10 percent. The Manistee News notes the investigation now touches Antrim County as well, alongside Benzie, Grand Traverse and Leelanau, with preliminary exam and probable-cause dates still pending across the courts involved.
What Investigators Say
Michigan State Police detectives at the Traverse City post opened the case on Oct. 23, 2024, and say preliminary work quickly turned up a trail of residential contracts and payments tied to Reimer. Detectives told CBS Detroit that the running total of alleged losses across the counties has climbed to nearly $1,000,000 as they continue to identify possible victims.
Regulatory Record And Local Complaints
State licensing records show Reimer has been the subject of administrative action in recent years, including a consent order and disciplinary findings tied to complaints about construction standards, abandonment of contracts and accounting for funds. Those actions are detailed in filings from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
Legal Process And Next Steps
The criminal counts allege fraudulent use of building contract funds, an offense prosecuted as a felony under Michigan’s Building Contract Fund Act. Per the Michigan Legislature, the statute carries potential fines and prison terms. Authorities are urging anyone with information, or who believes they may be a victim, to contact the MSP Traverse City Post at 231-938-0714, according to 9&10 News.
Where Victims Can Turn
Homeowners and subcontractors who think they were affected are being advised to hang onto contracts, receipts and any written or electronic communications, and to document work that was completed. The Michigan Attorney General provides an online complaint portal and consumer resources, and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs offers licensing and complaint information for builders and contractors. Officials point to those agencies as starting points for reporting losses or checking a contractor’s license status.
