LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A prime aide of former Speaker of the Michigan Home of Representatives Lee Chatfield was convicted Thursday after pleading responsible to felony fees of embezzlement and tax fraud.
Anne Minard, 38, of Tub Township, was initially charged alongside her husband Robert Minard in December 2024, with each going through fees of embezzlement, tax fraud, three counts of false pretenses, conspiracy to conduct a legal enterprise, and conducting a legal enterprise.
Anne confronted two extra counts of embezzlement and two extra counts of false pretenses. Robert confronted an extra cost of false pretenses.
The couple operated a consulting agency and quite a few political nonprofits whereas working for Chatfield and have been accused of operating a posh operation to “financially exploit” these organizations and misappropriating greater than $500,000.
Each the Minards initially pleaded not responsible. Nonetheless, Michigan Legal professional Normal Dana Nessel introduced Thursday evening Anne pleaded responsible to embezzling greater than $1,000 however lower than $20,000 from a nonprofit or charitable group and submitting a false tax return.
As a situation of her plea, Anne has agreed to offer truthful testimony in future hearings and pay full restitution of the Michigan Division of Treasury.
Anne Minard is predicted to seem in Ingham County thirtieth Circuit Court docket for sentencing Dec. 3.
Officers instructed 6 Information that investigation into Chatfield and the Minards started after Chatfield’s former sister-in-law Rebekah Chatfield filed a legal grievance accusing the previous Speaker of the Home of sexually assaulting her, starting when she was a pupil on the small Christian academy run by Chatfield’s father, the place Chatfield himself labored as a trainer.
Her former husband, Aaron Chatfield, offered extra details about potential abuses of marketing campaign finance legal guidelines, which have been investigated by the Division of Legal professional Normal.
In the meantime, prosecutors are accusing Chatfield and his spouse, Stephanie Chatfield, of utilizing political accounts for issues comparable to journey, housing, and different advantages by misusing Chatfield’s multimillion-dollar Peninsula Fund.
Michigan reviews the Chatfields are scheduled to go to trial Sept. 21, 2026, having waived their proper to a speedy trial as a result of scheduling conflicts.
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