All five are being arraigned in Marquette County District Court Monday for misappropriation of $75,000 of a Gwinn woman.
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MARQUETTE -- The Marquette police announced the arrests of five businessmen on Friday.
They're charged with financial fraud, for misappropriation of $75,000 of a Gwinn woman.
All five are set to appear on the felony charges on Monday, in Marquette County District Court. The charges carry a maximum ten year prison sentence, and police say their investigation could produce more charges.
According to officials, the charges come from a lengthy nine month investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds by Tri-Star Development LLC in the Hawks Ridge condo development off McClellan Street in Marquette.
Those charged include: Ryan M. Bruns, who's the owner of Napa Auto Parts in Marquette, Mike Gokey, an employee of Marquette General Hospital. He's also the former Director of Economic Development for the Lake Superior Community Partnership. Brian Swift, the former U.P. aide to former Governor John Engler, Joel Westrom, the former chair of the Marquette County Republican Party and Chad LaVallie, a staffing manager for SBC in the Chicago area, have also been charged.
Police have arrested Gokey and Bruns on four felony counts. The other three involved have warrants out for their arrests at this time.
The charges include false pretenses of $20,000 or more, conspiracy to commit false pretenses, fraudulent use of building contract funds and conspiracy to commit contractor fraud.
"Everybody's cooperating", said Marquette Police Detective, Captain, Gordon Warchock. "We have no concern that everybody will be arrested on the warrant."
Brun's attorney, Karl Numminen claims his client actually brought the case to the attention of the police, and shouldn't be charged.
"The money ranges from; there's an investor who put in approximately 70 some thousand dollars", Numminen said. "The people that are involved in this project have their own personal investment too."
Friday, the Marquette City Police
Click here to read the entire complaint.
Click here to read the full press release.
