A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, has indicted a Nebraska contractor on charges of defrauding customers across several states. Bobby Bates Sr., aged 42, from Grand Island, Nebraska, faces two counts of wire fraud according to court documents.
Bates, who owns Built Rite Construction, is accused of accepting deposits for construction projects but failing to start or complete the work. The alleged fraudulent activities occurred between February 2023 and October 2023. Customers from Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas reportedly suffered losses exceeding $700,000.
The investigation into Bates's activities is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask will prosecute the case.
In another indictment announced simultaneously, Enoch Kennon was charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm. This case is under investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Christopher Oakley handling prosecution.
It is important to note that an indictment represents only an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.