Last week, 41-year-old Gregory Hite and 41-year-old Bridget Bureau were bound over felony charges for an alleged criminal enterprise.

The couple, from Lake (Station) stole the identity of a local excavation business to obtain financing to resell equipment without a title. 44 pieces of equipment were illegally sold for a value of nearly $2 million. They were also charged with multiple counts of filing a false tax return.

"Identity thieves can target anyone, including businesses, for their own personal financial gain,” said Attorney General Nessel. “I want to thank the Clare County Sheriff’s Department and the Department of Treasury for their investigative work on this case. We will continue to work with our state and local partners to hold accountable those who steal from Michigan residents.”

Hite was bound over:

• One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a felony punishable by 20 years and/or $100,000;
• Three counts of Identity Theft, a felony punishable by 5 years and/or $25,000;
• One count of False Pretenses $100,000 or more, a felony punishable by 20 years and/or $35,000;
• One count of False Pretenses $50,000 or more but less than $100,000, a felony punishable by 15 years and/or $25,000;
• One count of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, a felony punishable by 10 years and/or $10,000; and
• Five counts of Taxes- False Return, a felony punishable by 5 years and/or $5,000.

Bureau was bound over on:

• One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a felony punishable by 20 years and/or $100,000;
• Three counts of Identity Theft, a felony punishable by 5 years and/or $25,000; and
• Six counts of Taxes- Failure to File/False Return (tax years 2019 through 2024), a felony punishable by 5 years and/or $5,000.

The case is in the 55th Circuit Court in Clare County.