A Marquette County contractor is facing 15 felony charges after allegedly defrauding multiple clients.

Charges against Klint Miller, 33, of Sands Township, are related to incidents that began in 2020 and include:

• Seven counts of larceny by conversion over $20,000, felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or $15,000 fine

• Seven counts of fraudulent use of contractor funds, felonies punishable by up to three years in prison

• One count of conducting a criminal enterprise, felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $100,000

Miller was arraigned on these charges in 2021, and was released on a personal recognizance bond. 

In January 2020, the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation of Miller’s company, U.P. General Contracting. The investigation began after clients received emails from Miller that said he was closing the company. Several clients had unfinished home construction and other projects that had been paid for in advance. 

A search warrant was executed a month later at the company’s office on Washington Street in Marquette. Nine projects were identified in Marquette County and had a combined loss estimated at $978,000. Other unfinished projects were found in Alger and Delta Counties, bringing the total loss to well over $1 million. 

“Every licensed contractor is bound by law to follow through on work paid for by clients,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said. “My office remains committed to holding accountable anyone who takes advantage of that trust and cheat clients out of hard-earned money. I appreciate the work done by the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department that helped secure these charges against Mr. Miller.” 

“When you build or renovate your home, you put your faith, time and life savings into it,” Marquette County Sheriff Greg Zyburt said back in 2021. “To have a contractor abuse that trust is criminal and inflicts pain similar to breaking into someone’s home. We will continue to work with the Attorney General on this case.” 

Miller’s jury trial has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 19.