ALLEGAN, Mich. (WOOD) — Authorities in Allegan County say they have arrested two people in connection to a scam targeting a logging company.
The Allegan County Sheriff’s Office said that after officers from the City of Allegan helped run down a tip in the case, a man and woman were arrested. Thursday afternoon, Undersheriff Michael Larsen told 24 Hour News 8 that the suspects were being interviewed. He said they appeared to be the only suspects involved.
The sheriff’s office says a man who identified himself as Steve Sandalford of Vicksburg gave fake paperwork to a logging company saying he owned property he wanted to have logged. After signing a contract on March 28, the logging company paid the man an unknown amount of money and began work on the property. The real estate company for the actual property owner noticed the work and confronted the logging company, which then realized it had been scammed.
The logging company told detectives the man suggested he was a military veteran who received preferential treatment on properties and loans and was “flipping the property after logging” to make money.
Full story from 24 Hour News 8