Man pleads guilty to fraudulently trying to get Michigan business grants

LANSING, MI – A Lansing man plead guilty this week to trying to defraud a Michigan business grant program.

Leslie Buck, 26, pled guilty to eight felony counts, including seven counts of perjury, each a 15-year felony, and one count of using a computer, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a June 12 news release.

Buck was charged in December for filing fraudulent Growing MI Business Grant applications with the Michigan Department of Treasury, according to the attorney general. The Lansing Police Department alerted the treasury department of this activity.

“Grant programs are designed to support Michigan residents striving to grow their businesses and should not be exploited for someone’s own personal gain,” Nessel said. “I want to thank the Department of Treasury and Lansing Police Department for their vigilance in uncovering this fraud. My office will continue to prosecute those who abuse public resources.”

Buck is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23 before Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Wanda Stokes.