Buck, 25, of Lansing, Michigan, was sentenced for grant fraud.”>
LANSING,MI – A 25-year-old Lansing resident received a two-year probation sentence on Wednesday,August 23,2023,after admitting to fraudulently applying for state business grants,Michigan Attorney general Dana Nessel announced Friday,august 25,2023.
Leslie Buck pleaded guilty in june to multiple charges related to a scheme to obtain funds from the Growing MI Business Grant program, designed to bolster michigan’s small businesses. The case highlights the state’s commitment to safeguarding public resources and ensuring grant programs benefit legitimate entrepreneurs. Buck’s sentencing serves as a deterrent against similar fraudulent activity, and the Attorney General’s office continues to investigate potential abuse of state funding initiatives.
The inquiry began when the Lansing Police Department flagged suspicious applications to the Michigan Department of Treasury. Officials determined Buck submitted falsified information in his grant requests. he was initially charged in december 2023 with seven counts of perjury and one count of using a computer to commit a crime.
During sentencing,Judge Rosemarie Aquilina imposed a two-year probation period and a 100-day jail sentence,which Buck had already served prior to the court appearance. an additional 200-day jail term was suspended, contingent upon successful completion of his probation.
“Grant programs are designed to support michigan residents striving to grow their businesses and should not be exploited for someone’s own personal gain,” Nessel stated following Buck’s guilty plea in June.