MARQUETTE — A residential builder from Sands Township who allegedly failed to complete more than $1 million worth of projects in three U.P. counties is set to face a jury early next year.

Klint Miller, 33, was arraigned in Marquette County’s 96th District Court in 2021 on more than a dozen felonies related to his failure to complete construction projects, including 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; seven counts of fraudulent use of contractor funds, felonies punishable by up to three years in prison; one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony with a maximum fine of $100,000.

On July 31, a pretrial conference was scheduled for Jan. 6, 2025 for Miller, with a jury trail to begin on Feb. 19, 2025 at 9 a.m.

In January 2020, the Marquette County Sheriff s Office initiated an investigation into Miller’s construction company, U.P. General Contracting. The investigation started as a result of clients receiving an email from Miller indicating he was closing the company. Clients were left with unfinished home construction and remodel projects that had been paid for in advance.

In February 2020, a search warrant was obtained and executed on the company’s office formerly located at 329 W. Washington Street, Suite A1 in the city of Marquette. Marquette City Police and the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit assisted with that warrant.

Nine projects were identified in Marquette County with a total estimated loss of $978,000. Three additional unfinished projects were identified in Alger and Delta counties, where Miller faces similar charges. The Michigan State Police and Escanaba Public Safety are handling the investigations outside of Marquette County.

Combined, the unfinished projects total $1,258,207.

“Every licensed contractor is bound by law to follow through on work paid for by clients,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is handling the case in Marquette, said in a press release announcing Miller’s arraignment. “My office remains committed to holding accountable anyone who takes advantage of that trust and cheats 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.”