Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield, and his wife, Stephanie, are slated to face a judge, on charges that involve some hefty allegations of embezzling and misappropriating both public and private funds. The stakes of their alleged white-collar crimes have raised eyebrows, all the more for being linked to a figure whose role was to uphold public trust, according to the Michigan Attorney General's Office.
The couple's illicit endeavors came to light following an investigation that, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, revealed "extensive evidence of elaborate schemes to embezzle and misappropriate private and public funds." These funds were reportedly used to support Lee Chatfield's lifestyle during his tenure as a state official. Nessel's announcement, as relayed by the Michigan Attorney General's Office, details the alleged criminal blueprint that the Chatfields are accused of having constructed.
Apparently, Lee Chatfield, who is 35, found various avenues to channel funds for personal use. These included money from the 501(c)(4) Peninsula Fund, his own political action committees, and, the state budget of the Michigan House of Representatives. Beyond credit card payments, he supposedly gamed the system, seeking improper mileage reimbursements, initiated kickback schemes with PAC money, and turned a profit from subletting an apartment paid for by the Peninsula Fund, as reported by the Michigan Attorney General's Office.
The litany of charges against Lee Chatfield includes one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, four counts of embezzlement from a non-profit organization, and three counts of embezzlement by a public officer, among others, as cited by the Michigan Attorney General's Office press release. Stephanie Chatfield's alleged involvement has her facing charges for embezzlement from a non-profit organization and conspiracy to commit the same.
