Timber Harvester going to circuit court on embezzlement charges

The owner of two Michigan timber harvesting companies – G.L.F.P., Inc (commonly known as Great Lakes Forest Products) and Northern Timber Producers Inc. – was bound over to Otsego County Circuit Court last Friday on six counts of embezzlement after lying to landowners about the amount and type of timber he took from their properties to avoid paying them the full value owed.

Norman Kasubowski, 53, of Petoskey, was bound over to Otsego County Circuit Court March 19 after a hearing before Judge Michael Cooper in 87-A District Court in Gaylord on six counts of embezzlement by an agent of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000. Each charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater.

“Consumers signing any contract with a business do so with the expectation that they will be treated fairly,” Nessel said. “We allege Mr. Kasubowski failed in his obligation to his customers and cheated them out of what was rightfully theirs.”

Details regarding circuit court judge assignments and next court dates are forthcoming.