Two former staffers of Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield charged with embezzlement, conducting "continuing criminal enterprise"

LANSING (WWJ) Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced felony charges against two former staffers of former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield.

Rob and Anne Minard, a Lansing-area married couple, were hit with a long list of charges including felony embezzlement charges and conducting "a continuing criminal enterprise."

Other charges included False Pretenses and Filing a False Tax Return.

"The evidence uncovered to date supports allegations that the Minards used these financially contractual relationships to enrich themselves in a way not permissible within the law," Nessel said during a press conference. "And we allege today that the Minards wrongfully embezzled, misappropriated, or wrongfully obtained a sum of at least $525,000."

Nessel said the couple unlawfully obtained the money between 2018 and 2020 through fundraising accounts tied to House Republicans, in support of Chatfield. She alleged that the Minards misused funds from multiple sources, including social welfare nonprofit organizations, a lobbying firm and campaign committees.

"During the investigation, it became clear there were substantial amounts of money involved, submitting invoices to nonprofits for expenses they did not personally incur, unilaterally moving funds from nonprofit accounts without proper justification to their own accounts, and documenting misrepresented invoices without approval from nonprofit administrators" Nessel said. "The methods and the scheme alleged today are far from simple or easy to follow."

Anne Minard was Chatfield's chief fundraiser and former director of external affairs. Rob Minard was Chatfield's Chief of Staff.

Early in 2022, authorities raided the Minard home in Bath, about 15 miles outside of Lansing.

Nessel said the Minards will be allowed to turn themselves in. The couple faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Lee Chatfield served six years in the Michigan House—and was Speaker in 2019 and 2020. In 2022, his sister-in-law publicly accused the former lawmaker of sexually abusing her starting when she was 15 years old. Chatfield's lawyer said their relationship was consensual.

The Detroit News reports that the Attorney General's Office is investigating Chatfield for his "connection to an alleged criminal enterprise, potentially involving embezzlement, bribery, campaign finance violations and controlled substances."

Democrat Joe Tate now serves as Michigan House Speaker.

Nessel said they are "nearing an end-point" into their investigation into Chatfield.