A 23-year-old Grand Rapids contractor man has been charged with felonies after allegedly taking funds for work expected to be completed in Leelanau County.
Deputies from the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office were contacted in December by a family in Georgia, who were in the process of building a new residence in Leelanau.
Information from the victims were that they had fronted nearly $800,000 to a general contractor firm, Jenkins Estates, LTD. from the Grand Rapids area to act as the general contractor for their new home. Additional information was that work had begun by several subcontractors but had stopped because none of them were getting paid. Detectives executed several search warrants for financial records and interviewed several of the subcontractors from the job as part of the investigation.
During this time, two other complaints came in from within the county about the same general contractor. These involved a similar fraud and also a nonsuffi cient funds check to one of the subcontractors. It was also learned that the Grand Rapids Police Department was also actively investigating this general contractor for similar activities in their area.
A report was submitted to the Leelanau County Prosecutor earlier in 2024 and in late March charges for false pretenses $100,000 or more, a 20-year felony and contractor fraud/fraudulent use of building contract fund, also a felony were authorized.
David Jon Jenkins turned himself in at the Sheriff’s Office, April 3 and was arraigned Tuesday in District Court.
Other victims or others with information about Jenkins Estates, LTD are asked to contact Leelanau County Dispatch at 231-256-8800.
