Illinois contractor faces federal fraud charges in Indiana

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - An Illinois contractor faces federal charges in Indiana for allegedly defrauding a blight removal program of nearly $100,000 in phony invoices.

Mahmoud 'œMike'ť Alshuaibi was indicted by a grand jury on six felony counts of wire fraud, theft and making false statements, according to The (Northwest Indiana) Time s.

He's the owner of IESCO Construction, Inc. of South Holland, Illinois. He surrendered Thursday at a hearing before Magistrate Judge John Martin.

He's accused of stealing money from the Hardest Hit Fund, a federal program to demolish abandoned houses and eliminate urban blight.

It was immediately unclear he had an attorney. A message left Sunday at a listed phone number wasn't immediately returned.

Alshuaibi was due in court in Hammond March 6.