Clare County Couple Bound Over on Felony Criminal Enterprise Charges

Michigan Attorney General Press Release

LANSING – Gregory Hite, 41, and his wife, Bridget Bureau, 41, both of Lake, were bound over to circuit court last week on multiple felony charges related to an alleged criminal enterprise, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Hite and Bureau allegedly used the identity of a local business to purchase and resell excavation equipment and vehicles.

The Department alleges that Hite and Bureau stole the identity of a local excavation company to fraudulently obtain financing to purchase 44 pieces of equipment valued at nearly $2 million, before illegally reselling the equipment without good title. Hite and Bureau are additionally charged with multiple counts of filing a false tax return.

“Identity thieves can target anyone, including businesses, for their own personal financial gain,” said Attorney General Nessel. “I want to thank the Clare County Sheriff’s Department and the Department of Treasury for their investigative work on this case. We will continue to work with our state and local partners to hold accountable those who steal from Michigan residents.”  

Hite was bound over on the following charges:

• One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a felony punishable by 20 years and/or $100,000;
• Three counts of Identity Theft, a felony punishable by 5 years and/or $25,000;
• One count of False Pretenses $100,000 or more, a felony punishable by 20 years and/or $35,000;
• One count of False Pretenses $50,000 or more but less than $100,000, a felony punishable by 15 years and/or $25,000;
• One count of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, a felony punishable by 10 years and/or $10,000; and
• Five counts of Taxes- False Return, a felony punishable by 5 years and/or $5,000.

Bureau was bound over on:

• One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a felony punishable by 20 years and/or $100,000;
• Three counts of Identity Theft, a felony punishable by 5 years and/or $25,000; and
• Six counts of Taxes- Failure to File/False Return (tax years 2019 through 2024), a felony punishable by 5 years and/or $5,000.

The case has been bound over to the 55^th Circuit Court in Clare County. Preliminary examination occurred in the 80th District Court.

Attorney General Nessel encourages businesses to become familiar with the many ways a company may be targeted for Identity Theft. Her Consumer Protection Team has an alert to help business owners protect their businesses.