A Nebraska contractor has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, on charges of defrauding customers across several states. Bobby Bates Sr., 42, from Grand Island, Nebraska, faces two counts of wire fraud according to court documents.
Bates is the owner of Built Rite Construction and is accused of taking deposits for construction projects without starting or completing the work. The alleged fraudulent activities took place between February 2023 and October 2023. Customers in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas reportedly suffered losses exceeding $700,000.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are handling the investigation into this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is responsible for prosecuting Bates.
In another case mentioned in the same indictment release, Enoch Kennon was charged with one count of being a 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 prosecuting.
It is important to note that an indictment represents only an allegation; all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
