Man indicted for allegedly defrauding Northampton construction company

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – A Michigan man has been indicted by a Springfield federal grand jury for allegedly attempting to defraud a Northampton construction company of nearly $1 million.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office for Massachusetts, 39-year-old Jonathan McCormack of Lapeer, Michigan has been indicted for 17 counts of wire fraud and 12 counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property of a value greater than $10,000. He is due in Springfield Federal Court at a later date.

McCormack was employed as a project supervisor for the construction company BluRoc, LLC in Northampton while also owning and operating JDM Site Services, LLC in Michigan. The company rented heavy equipment to BluRoc.

Between January 2019 and January 2021, McCormack allegedly schemed to defraud BluRock by submitting materially false invoices for equipment usage and diverting BluRock labor, equipment and materials for his personal use. McCormack is also alleged to have entered fraudulent employee time and equipment usage data in BluRock’s tracking system, overstating hours worked by employees, himself and the number of hours equipment was used.

It is also alleged that McCormack deposited payments from these false invoices and used the money for his personal use, including the purchase of a luxury hunting lodge, improvements to his home, purchases of recreational vehicles and to repay a loan to his uncle.

In addition, McCormack allegedly directed BluRoc employees to conduct work at his luxury hunting lodge, clearing an area and laying timber mats he had stolen from BluRoc and seeding an area with materials also stolen from BluRoc. The employees’ time and equipment usage was then approved in BluRoc’s tracking system by McCormack so that BluRoc paid for the work instead of McCormack.

The indictment is seeking the forfeiture of $920,716, the hunting lodge and six Polaris recreational vehicles.

If found guilty, McCormack faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

Local News

Juvenile seriously injured in shooting on Kenyon St. in Springfield

Irish politician continues western Massachusetts visit with stop in Springfield

PHOTOS: Seen at the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast in Springfield

Southwick Land Trust hosts roadside clean-up event

22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts in March 1953. Watch the 22News digital edition on weekdays at 4 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.