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Daniel Siefka
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
LUDINGTON — If a 34-year-old Grant Township builder facing felony charges of fraudulent use of building contract funds pays full restitution to his victims, he will avoid a possible prison term for a criminal enterprise charge as a joint prosecution venture between three counties. However, Daniel James Siefka faces a prison term if he does not pay the restitution in full.
Siefka, who is free on bond, and his attorney Laura Helderop appeared via Zoom video conferencing for a pretrial hearing Tuesday, June 11.
“This defendant has two charges here; a charge in Muskegon County; and a charge in Antrim County,” said Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Beth Hand. “I’ve had frequent and lengthy conversations with the prosecuting attorneys from both counties. It is the People’s position that if the defendant comes to the plea dates with full restitution in Mason, Muskegon and Antrim counties, the counties are prepared to forgo initiation of a charge of conducting a criminal enterprise. The number one objective is to give the victims full restitution. If not, there will not be a reduction of charges or a sentencing agreement.”
“We’re hoping to push the plea date out,” said defense attorney Helderop, noting that the plea date in Muskegon County is scheduled for Sept. 10. “There is no charge in Antrim County – it was dismissed several months ago.”
Prosecutor Hand requested that the plea hearing in Mason County be scheduled prior to the Muskegon County hearing. Court staff scheduled it for Sept. 3 at 10 a.m. “It needs to be in person (as opposed to Zoom), so he can pay,” said Hand.
“If the Antrim County victim is not paid in full, the prosecution will move forward,” she said regarding that status of his criminal case there.
Siefka owns Legacy Building Group, LLC of 62 W. Freeman Road. He also used to own the business name of Hot Shot Builders LLC and Beyond the Call Contracting, LLC.
He is accused of defrauding a Ludington couple of $184,884 after they hired him to renovate their home.
A Ludington Police Department report stated that Siefka placed a lien on the victims’ house at Carter Lumber of Amber Township. He did not pay the lumber company $28,113.87, which the victims ended up having to pay.
According to an article in the Manistee News Advocate published in September 2023, a group of eight people, from various northern Michigan towns, were interviewed about their experiences with Siefka and his wife Lydia Siefka. Kelly Newell, of Gaylord, who was part of the group interviewed, stated that since contacting victims of the Siekas, she had heard from people from Manistee, Antrim, Grand Traverse, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana, Otsego and Wexford counties.
The couple had been living in Colorado. According to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole, Daniel Siefka was arrested on charges in Colorado; posted bond; and then returned to Mason County where he turned himself in.
An Oceana County couple sued Siefka in a civil case, and he was ordered to pay $882,506. In Manistee County, Siefka and his company were ordered to pay a plaintiff $166,403.55.
There have been multiple civil cases filed against both Daniel and Lydia Siefka in Mason County. The cases involve a variety of issues including fraud, forfeiture of land contracts and evictions. They have been sued locally by businesses Standard Lumber and Zeeland Lumber and Supply. The Siefkas are connected with multiple businesses, including:
- Beyond the Call Contracting, LLC, 62 W. Freeman Road, Grant Township; Daniel Siefka of the same address, resident agent. Dissolved on Dec. 31, 2019.
- Hotshot Builders, LLC, 10275 N. US 31, Grant Township; Lydia Siefka, of the same address, resident agent. The property address is owned by Nina E. Pearce.
- Hotshot Services, LLC, 62 W. Freeman Rd., Grant Township; Lydia Siefka, resident agent of 212 W. Hoague Rd., Grant Township.
- Legacy Building Group, LLC, 62 W. Freeman Rd., Grant Township; Lydia Siefka, 62 W. Freeman Rd., Grant Township, resident agent.
- Lesraa Holdings, LLC, 212 W. Hoague Rd., Grant Township; Lydia Siefka, of the same address, resident agent.
- Promise Land Holdings, LLC, 62 W. Freeman Rd., Grant Township; Daniel Siefka, of the same address, resident agent.
- Spray Foam Solutions, LLC, 62 W. Freeman Rd., Grant Township; Lydia Siefka, of the same address, resident agent.
- West Michigan Custom Exteriors, Inc., 62 W. Freeman Rd., Grant Township; Daniel Siefka, of the same address, resident agent.
- West Wind Stables, LLC, 62 W. Freeman Rd., Grant Township; Lydia Siefka, of the same address, resident agent.
- West Shore Soccer League, 2222 W. Grand River Ave., Suite A, Okemos; Daniel Siefka is listed as a director with a local organization address of PO Box 706, Ludington.
Editor-in-Chief Rob Alway contributed to this report
This article was updated Thursday, June 13, at 9:30 a.m.
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