Indianapolis homebuilder accused of swindling clients out of thousands

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. — An Indianapolis-based homebuilder is accused of accepting thousands of dollars in payments but not following through on the contracted work.

Michael Land, 70, is charged with two counts of theft as a Level 6 felony and one count of theft as a Level 5 felony.

According to court documents, in November of 2024, a man contacted the Boone County Sheriff’s Department and accused Land of Fraud. The man told police he paid Land deposits of $5,000 for a home lot and $42,000 for the pre-construction of a home in the Inglenook subdivision of Zionsville. But after Land accepted the money, the client never heard or saw Land again.

This isn’t the only client Land is accused of accepting money from and then never delivering on the promised work.

Another client told investigators he paid Land $60,000 in August 2023 to purchase lumber. But Land allegedly only purchased $1,200 worth of lumber— the rest of the money never returned to the client.

Investigators tried to reach out to Land but ended up being directed to his attorney. The attorney told detectives that Land closed his business, Land Development & Building LLC, due to “health reasons and challenges beyond his control.”

Land has since filed for bankruptcy.

A warrant was issued for Land’s arrest in January. He wasn’t arrested and booked in jail until Tuesday.

According to court records, Land bonded out of jail on the same day of his arrest after posting a $950 cash bond. A judge ruled shortly afterward that Land could travel out of state to visit family over the next several months.

If convicted of a Level 5 felony, Land could face up to six years in prison.