Feds: Ex-Mpls Chamber CEO stole $200K+ and $30K Crime Stoppers; indicted
Federal prosecutors have indicted Jonathan Weinhagen, the former Minneapolis Regional Chamber CEO who has resigned from the Mounds View school board, alleging he embezzled more than $200,000 — including $30,000 the Chamber donated to Crime Stoppers for three unsolved 2021 child shootings — in a scheme dating from December 2019 to June 2024. The indictment alleges he used a sham consulting firm "Synergy Partners" and an alias "James Sullivan" (including a fake obituary), opened a Chamber line of credit and drew over $125,000, signed sham contracts paying him over $100,000, and attempted a fraudulent SoFi loan; the Chamber says it is cooperating with the DOJ.
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📌 Key Facts
- Federal prosecutors say former Minneapolis Regional Chamber CEO Jonathan Weinhagen was indicted by a grand jury on charges alleging he misappropriated more than $200,000 in Chamber funds and diverted $30,000 the Chamber had donated to Crime Stoppers for three unsolved 2021 Minneapolis child shootings.
- Prosecutors allege the scheme ran from December 2019 through June 2024 and included opening a Chamber line of credit and drawing more than $125,000, then diverting Chamber donations to repay it, and signing sham contracts that generated over $100,000 in payments to himself.
- Investigators say Weinhagen used a sham consulting firm called 'Synergy Partners' and an alias, 'James Sullivan' — including posting an allegedly fake Legacy.com obituary for Sullivan and receiving condolence comments referencing Synergy Partners — to hide the scheme.
- Records reported by news outlets show 'Jim and Mary Sullivan' (listing Synergy Partners/’Not Employed’ and a P.O. box) donated $1,200 to Weinhagen’s 2023 Mounds View school board campaign, a contribution the reporting ties to the Sullivan alias.
- The indictment also alleges Weinhagen attempted to obtain a $54,661 loan from SoFi by falsely claiming he worked for a restaurant holding company and earned a $425,000 salary.
- Following the federal indictment and media reporting, Weinhagen resigned from his seat on the Mounds View school board.
- The Minneapolis Regional Chamber issued a statement pledging cooperation with the Department of Justice and noting governance and process changes made over the prior 16 months.
- Family members of the victims — including KG Wilson, grandfather of victim Aniya Allen — publicly condemned the alleged theft of reward funds intended for solving the child shootings.
📰 Sources (6)
‘He was a family man’: Read the obituary indicted CEO allegedly wrote for his alias ‘James Sullivan’
New information:
- Publishes the full text and details of the allegedly fake Legacy.com obituary for 'James Sullivan' (age 62; purported death Mar. 28, 2024; survivors named; UMN attendance; 1988 Dukakis North Dakota field organizer; private interment; charity note).
- Notes condolence comments left on the obituary referencing Synergy Partners and the Dukakis campaign before the obituary was taken down.
- Reports that 'Jim and Mary Sullivan' donated $1,200 to Weinhagen’s 2023 Mounds View school board campaign, listing 'Synergy Partners/Not Employed' as employer and using a P.O. Box.
Jonathan Weinhagen resigns from Mounds View school board amid federal fraud allegations
New information:
- Jonathan Weinhagen has resigned from the Mounds View school board.
- The resignation is explicitly tied to ongoing federal fraud allegations.
Ex-Minneapolis chamber president resigns from Mounds View school board amid embezzlement charges
New information:
- Jonathan Weinhagen has resigned from the Mounds View school board.
- The resignation comes in the wake of federal embezzlement charges alleging he diverted funds from the Minneapolis Regional Chamber and Crime Stoppers donations.
Feds: Former Minneapolis Chamber CEO stole reward money for unsolved crimes
New information:
- Prosecutors allege Weinhagen diverted $30,000 the Chamber donated to Crime Stoppers for three unsolved 2021 Minneapolis child shootings.
- Alleged use of a sham consulting firm “Synergy Partners” and alias “James Sullivan,” including a fake obituary for Sullivan.
- Opened a Chamber line of credit and drew over $125,000, then allegedly diverted Chamber donations to repay it.
- Signed sham contracts generating over $100,000 for himself, per the indictment.
- Attempted to secure a $54,661 SoFi Bank loan by falsely claiming employment at a restaurant holding company and a $425,000 salary.
- Scheme timeframe alleged as Dec. 2019–June 2024.
- Quote from KG Wilson (grandfather of victim Aniya Allen) condemning the alleged theft of reward funds.
- Minneapolis Regional Chamber statement pledging cooperation with DOJ and detailing governance/process changes over the past 16 months.
Former chamber exec, Mounds View school board member Jonathan Weinhagen indicted
New information:
- Identifies the former chamber executive as Jonathan Weinhagen.
- Reports that a grand jury has indicted Weinhagen in the case.
- Notes he is a current Mounds View school board member.