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By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
LUDINGTON — The contractor fraud cases in 79th District Court against a 36-year-old man who worked as a builder based out of Mason County’s Grant Township and his 35-year-old wife are on hold until a new judge is assigned.
Daniel James Siefka and Lydia Ruth Siefka are each charged with: one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, one count of conspiracy to conduct a criminal enterprise, four counts of larceny by conversion $20,000 or more and one count of false pretenses $100,000 or more.
The couple were scheduled to appear in court Monday, July 27, before Judge John Middlebrook for a preliminary exam, but the proceeding did not take place.
“Judge Middlebrook has recused himself from presiding over this matter, and the case will be referred to the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) for the assignment of a new presiding judge,” said Michigan Department of Attorney General Press Secretary Danny Wimmer. “At this time, no further appearances in this matter have yet been scheduled by the court.”
The cases are being prosecuted by Michigan Assistant Attorney General Brenden Sawyer, said Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Beth Hand.
Daniel Siefka was sentenced to one year in jail in Muskegon County and one year in jail in Antrim County on similar charges.
“The defendants in this case are alleged to have taken hundreds of thousands of dollars — combined totals — from numerous unsuspecting individuals,” Prosecutor Hand previously said. “The victims here were expecting completed construction contracts and/or other investment property in exchange for their hard-earned money. This simply did not happen — owing money and/or completed construction to numerous people. The defendants re-located to Colorado.”
Hand said the total amount owed by Siefka in Mason County is approximately $400,000 for allegedly defrauding two couples. He was originally charged with two felony counts of fraudulent use of building contract funds by a contractor that were dismissed Feb. 25, 2025.
“The previous builder’s trust cases against Siefka were dismissed, because it was the understanding of this office that another prosecutor’s office would be pursuing a criminal enterprise case against Siefka for his actions in Mason, Muskegon and Antrim counties. That did not occur. When I learned that the more serious charge was not being pursued, nor the victims from Mason County achieving justice, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office conducted a thorough investigation into the offenses here in Mason County and numerous other jurisdictions. Upon completion of the investigation, I found probable cause existed to issue charges against both Daniel Siefka and Lydia Siefka for conducting a criminal enterprise, conspiring to conduct a criminal enterprise, along with numerous additional felony counts of larceny by conversion and false pretenses. Defendants are always presumed innocent of these charges until proven guilty.”
Siefka owns Legacy Building Group, LLC of 62 W. Freeman Road. He also owned the business names of Hot Shot Builders LLC and Beyond the Call Contracting, LLC.
He pleaded no contest in Muskegon County’s 14th Circuit Court Dec. 5, 2025 to contractor false sworn statements $20,000 or more and fraudulent use of building contractor funds, court records state. He was sentenced Jan. 14 to $455,588 in restitution; one year in jail with credit for one day served; three years probation; and $716 in fines and costs. No payments have been made on his balance, according to court records.
In Antrim County’s 86th District Court, Siefka pleaded guilty Dec. 17, 2025 to false pretenses $200-$999 and was sentenced to one year in jail and $1,225 in fines and costs. Charges of false pretenses $20,000-$50,000 and fraudulent use of building contract funds were dismissed, according to court records.
He is accused of defrauding a Ludington couple of $184,884 after they hired him to renovate their home. A Ludington Police Department report stated that Siefka placed a lien on the victims’ house at Carter Lumber of Amber Township. He did not pay the lumber company $28,113.87, which the victims ended up paying.
An Oceana County couple sued Siefka in a civil case, and he was ordered to pay $882,506. In Manistee County, Siefka and his company were ordered to pay a plaintiff $166,403.55.
The civil cases filed against the Siefkas involve fraud, forfeiture of land contracts and evictions. They have been sued by Standard Lumber and Zeeland Lumber and Supply.
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