A Michigan resident pleaded guilty on Apr. 23 in federal court in Springfield, Massachusetts, to charges related to a scheme defrauding a construction company based in Northampton.
Jonathan McCormack, age 41 and from Lapeer, Michigan, admitted guilt to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Aug. 17. According to the announcement, McCormack was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024.
McCormack worked as a project supervisor for BluRoc, LLC., while also owning JDM Site Services, LLC (JDM), his own Michigan-based equipment rental business supplying BluRoc. Authorities said he used both positions to divert labor and materials from BluRoc projects for personal renovations at his hunting lodge in Lake City, Michigan.
Between April and August of 2020, McCormack directed four crew members—including his brother—to work at the lodge but recorded their time as work on official BluRoc projects so they would be paid by the company. The fraudulent activity included taking approximately 300 timber mats plus hay and seed from a BluRoc site without payment. On April 4, 2020 specifically, he falsely approved payroll hours for himself and others for Indiana-based projects when they were actually working at the lodge.
As part of his plea agreement, McCormack agreed to forfeit six snowmobiles and repay $98,087 to BluRoc. The charge of wire fraud carries up to twenty years in prison with fines up to $250,000; conspiracy carries up to five years imprisonment with similar fines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said: “BOSTON – A Michigan man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield, Mass. to a scheme to defraud a Northampton construction company.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neil Desroches and Steven H. Breslow are prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts advances community initiatives on civil rights and violence prevention according to the official website. The office maintains facilities at the John Joseph Moakley United States Federal Courthouse in Boston as well as branch offices in Springfield and Worcester according to its official website. It is part of the United States Department of Justice according to its official website.
The office employs over two hundred attorneys along with paralegals and professional staff according to its official website, enforces federal laws through prosecutions that include national security threats or civil rights violations according to its official website, serves all residents across Massachusetts according to its official website, handles prosecutions as well as civil litigation statewide while promoting public safety since being established among America’s earliest such offices dating back more than two centuries according to its official website.