Former Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jonathan Weinhagen, a frequent donor to Democrat Governor Tim Walz, has been indicted on five federal counts of bank and wire fraud for allegedly embezzling more than $200,000 from the chamber and stealing $30,000 meant to help solve child murder cases.
According to federal prosecutors, Weinhagen carried out a six-year scheme between December 2019 and June 2024, using fake companies, fraudulent contracts, and even a phony obituary to cover his tracks.
According to FOX 9, Weinhagen ran an elaborate fraud operation from December 2019 through June 2024, when he abruptly left his position at the Chamber. Prosecutors allege that Weinhagen created a fake consulting company called Synergy Partners and used an alias, James Sullivan, to funnel money to himself.
He also allegedly:
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Opened a $125,000 line of credit in the chamber’s name and funneled the money into his fake company.
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Faked the death of his alias, publishing an obituary for “James Sullivan” when the chamber began asking questions.
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Diverted $30,000 in reward money that had been donated to Crime Stoppers of Minnesota to help solve the shooting deaths of three children in 2021 — crimes that remain unsolved.
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Tried to fraudulently obtain a $54,661 loan from SoFi Bank by claiming he worked for a restaurant group and earned $425,000 annually — both lies.
Federal prosecutors say the total embezzled amount exceeds $200,000.
Weinhagen also stole a total of $30,000 in reward money that had been earmarked to help find suspects.
KSTP reported:
In spring 2021, a series of shootings in north Minneapolis killed two children, 6-year-old Aniya Allen and 9-year-old Trinity Ottoson-Smith, and injured a third, 10-year-old Ladavionne Garrett Jr.
Shortly after the shootings, the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce partnered with Crime Stoppers of Minnesota to offer up $10,000 rewards for information that helped solve each of the victims’ cases — $30,000 in total.
A year later, all three shootings were still unresolved, and no reward money had been doled out.
Weinhagen allegedly asked Crime Stoppers to return the money the Chamber of Commerce had donated and convinced the organization to send a check for $30,000 to his home address. He then deposited the money for his own use, charging documents state.
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Weinhagen is also accused of falsifying his income to apply for a loan through SoFi Bank after his departure from the Minneapolis Regional Chamber.
In January, Weinhagen allegedly applied for a $54,661 loan while falsely claiming to work for a restaurant holding company with an annual income of $425,000.
As part of the scheme, he allegedly gave SoFi Bank a fraudulent paystub. The bank did not approve the loan.
The Center of the American Experiment, a Minnesota-based conservative think tank, reported that between 2021 and 2023, campaign finance records show that Weinhagen donated at least $6,000 to Governor Tim Walz’s reelection campaign and affiliated political committees.
The news outlet reported that “Weinhagen made $9,500 in campaign donations over the past decade.”
As the scandal exploded, Weinhagen quietly resigned from his position on the Mounds View School Board, where he had served for over a decade. The board released a brief statement Thursday confirming his immediate resignation:
“We’ve received notice that Jonathan Weinhagen has resigned from the school board of Mounds View Public Schools, effective immediately. The board will discuss next steps to fill the remainder of the vacated term…”
WATCH:
WOW: Jonathan Weinhagen, former Minneapolis Chamber CEO and frequent Tim Walz donor, has been indicted on five counts of bank and wire fraud, embezzling over $200K.
He is also accused of stealing $30K in reward money meant to hold child murders accountable. pic.twitter.com/nYi9hG3i2e
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) October 24, 2025