Bobby Bates Sr., Wire Fraud, Kansas 2023

Bobby Bates Sr., a 42-year-old Grand Island, Nebraska businessman, has been accused of defrauding customers out of more than $700,000 in multiple states.

According to federal court documents, Bates, the owner of Built Rite Construction, allegedly accepted deposits for construction projects but failed to start or complete the work in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating the case, which alleges that Bates committed two counts of wire fraud between February 2023 and October 2023.

Bates is accused of accepting deposits from customers but not starting or completing the construction projects, resulting in total losses of more than $700,000.

The indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, alleges that Bates committed two counts of wire fraud.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting the case, and the outcome is pending.

Bates’ case is a stark reminder of the importance of doing your due diligence when hiring a contractor, and the devastating consequences that can result when businesses prioritize profits over people.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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