LANSING – A Houghton Lake contractor was among several people arrested last week in a warrant sweep by the Michigan Attorney General’s (AG) office.
According to a statement released by the AG today, last Thursday, multiple local law enforcement agencies conducted a statewide warrant sweep securing arrests of nine Michigan residents.
The residents were wanted on arrest warrants for crimes of operating as unlicensed builders and fraud against the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA), announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
Michael Hill, 66, of Houghton Lake, was arrested and charged with operating as an unlicensed residential builder.
The warrant sweep involved special agents from the Department of Attorney General and law enforcement officers from the Police Departments of Detroit, Lansing, and Muskegon, as well as deputies from the Lapeer, Macomb, and Muskegon Sheriff’s Departments. The sweep was operational in Ingham, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Oakland, Roscommon, Saginaw, and Wayne counties.
“I’m thankful to the many law enforcement agencies and officers who made this successful sweep possible, along with the special agents from my department,” said Nessel. “When fraudsters and bad actors harm consumers and Michigan residents, we will pursue justice however and wherever needed.”
Also arrested during the warrant sweep were:
Darrell Kendrick, 65, of Detroit, for misdemeanor fraud against the UIA;
Miroslav Matieska, 49, of Hamtramck, for operating as an unlicensed builder;
Maurice Mills, 45, of Inkster, for misdemeanor fraud against the UIA;
Robert Mills, 50, of Romulus, for operating as an unlicensed builder;
Eddie Mosely, 54, of Auburn Hills, for misdemeanor fraud against the UIA;
Patrice Nolden, 51, of Eastpointe, for misdemeanor fraud against the UIA;
Tanya Parker, 48, of Detroit, for misdemeanor fraud against the UIA; and
Jimmie Turner, Jr., 69, of Berkley, for operating as an unlicensed builder.
Cases against unlicensed builders are initiated by consumer complaints to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) that typically allege a builder failed to perform or executed substandard work agreed to in a contract and are later found to be unlicensed in their profession.
These instances are most often related to residential renovation projects and financially harm the customer left with little recourse to recoup their payment. To operate as a builder without the requisite licensure from the state is a crime, and since 2020 there has been a significant increase in cases of unlicensed builders.
In 2022, the Criminal Trials and Appeals division of the Department of Attorney General handled over 200 misdemeanor Unlicensed Builder cases.
Some targets of the warrant sweep remain out of custody. Defendants were provided a bond and notice to appear by their local court. Court dates have not yet been set.
