Michigan

catbyte

(34,412 posts) Tue Apr 16, 2024, 01:28 PM Apr 16

Ex-Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield, wife charged with embezzlement, conspiracy

Last edited Tue Apr 16, 2024, 05:37 PM - Edit history (1)

Paul Egan
Clara Hendrickson
Arpan Lobo
Detroit Free Press

April 16, 2024

LANSING — Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield embezzled public and private funds to support a lavish lifestyle of fine dining, ritzy hotels and trips to exotic locations, Attorney General Dana Nessel said Tuesday in announcing felony charges against the former GOP leader and his wife, Stephanie.

Chatfield, 35, who held a powerful post as the majority party leader at the state Capitol throughout 2019 and 2020, is charged in East Lansing district court with 13 embezzlement, conspiracy and larceny counts, Nessel said at a news conference.

The most serious charge, conducting a criminal enterprise, is a 20-year felony. Only Lee Chatfield is charged with that crime.

Chatfield's wife, who allegedly assisted with improperly charging personal family expenses to a nonprofit organization called the Peninsula Fund, also faces one count each of embezzlement and conspiracy, Nessel said. Each charge is a 10-year felony.

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[link:https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2024/04/16/michigan-house-speaker-lee-chatfield-charged-embezzlement-nessel/72097431007/|Full article

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Ex-Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield, wife charged with embezzlement, conspiracy (Original Post) catbyte Apr 16 OP

More details on Chatfield charges James48 Apr 16 #1

James48

(4,437 posts)

1. More details on Chatfield charges

Reply to catbyte (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 11:46 PM

Apr 16

Great story on Detroit News tonight:
More from The Detroit News:

Nessel accuses ex-Speaker Chatfield of stealing political funds in criminal charges

(Snip)

Nessel's office is also charging Chatfield's wife, Stephanie, for her role in the alleged scheme. Lee Chatfield got kickbacks from his associates and used $132,000 from his nonprofit organization, named the Peninsula Fund, which was supposed to be focused on promoting social welfare, to pay off his personal Chase credit card, Nessel said. Chatfield's political money went to a trip to the Bahamas and buying products from the luxury fashion retailer Coach, groceries and food deliveries, Nessel added.

(Snip)

Money from the Peninsula Fund allegedly paid for credit card purchases during a Chatfield family trip to Universal Studios in Florida, including transactions at the Spider-Man Shop, a souvenir store, and at Three Broomsticks, a "Harry Potter"-themed restaurant.(snip)

As speaker, Chatfield sought reimbursement from the House for 42,337 miles driven in 2019 and 2020, but approximately 21,280 miles appear to be associated with trips not actually taken, according to the Attorney General's office.

More:

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2024/04/16/lee-chatfield-michigan-house-dana-nessel-criminal-investigation/73341391007/

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