The former head of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce has admitted to embezzling more than $200,000 from the business organization over five years.
Jonathan Weinhagen, 42, pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to one count of mail fraud, in connection with the chamber’s $30,000 donation to a Crime Stoppers reward fund for information leading to arrests in the 2021 shootings of three Minneapolis kids, two of whom died. He faces between 27 and 33 months in prison, plus a fine of up to $95,000 and over $213,000 in restitution.
As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors dropped other charges against Weinhagen, including wire fraud, attempted bank fraud, and making a false statement on a loan application. But he admitted that allegations stemming from all of the charges are true.
Weinhagen served as the president and CEO of the chamber from 2016 until last June, when he abruptly stepped down as the organization launched an internal investigation into its finances…