A former Minneapolis business leader pled guilty Monday that he carried out a years-long scheme that siphoned money from the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce.
He also stole reward funds meant to help solve the killings of children and used Chamber resources for personal travel and a bank loan application.
Jonathan Weinhagen, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and acknowledged that he operated under the alias “James Sullivan” as he carried out the scheme while serving as the Chamber’s president and CEO from December 2019 through June 2024. Federal investigators say Weinhagen created a fake consulting company, opened accounts under false identities, redirected Chamber funds and used deception to support a Hawaiian vacation, personal expenses and a fraudulent loan application…