Federal investigators have accused former Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce president Jonathan Weinhagen of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars meant to support local community programs. According to a federal indictment, Weinhagen allegedly carried out an elaborate scheme using a fake name, a fake business, and a series of lies to cover his tracks.
Weinhagen, who led the Chamber until 2024, is now facing several felony charges. Prosecutors say he created a fake consulting company called Synergy Partners, supposedly owned by a man named “James Sullivan” — an identity that Weinhagen completely fabricated. Through this fictional company, he billed the Chamber more than $100,000 for nonexistent consulting work.
Investigators say the former Chamber president didn’t stop there. He also opened a line of credit in the Chamber’s name and borrowed over $125,000 for his personal use. When the organization began asking questions about suspicious transactions, Weinhagen allegedly tried to cover up the fraud by drafting fake emails and creating a false paper trail. To make the story more convincing, prosecutors say he even went so far as to publish a fake obituary for “James Sullivan,” claiming his alias had died.
The indictment also accuses Weinhagen of misusing the Chamber’s credit card for personal luxuries — including first-class plane tickets and expensive oceanfront hotel stays in Hawaii. While the Chamber was focused on helping local businesses and supporting the community, its top executive was allegedly living a life of luxury with the organization’s money.
One of the most shocking allegations involves money that had been raised to help grieving families of children killed by gun violence. Prosecutors say Weinhagen asked Crime Stoppers to return a $30,000 donation — money that originally came from the Chamber to support rewards for solving the killings of three Minneapolis children. Instead of ensuring the funds went toward justice, Weinhagen allegedly wanted the money sent directly to him.
The $180,000 reward fund had been the largest ever offered in Minnesota to help find those responsible for the 2021 shootings of three children — Ladavionne Garrett Jr., Trinity Ottoson-Smith, and Aniya Allen. The children’s families say they are heartbroken that someone entrusted with community funds could misuse money meant to bring justice for their loved ones.
“I had trust that no one would do anything like this,” said KG Wilson, Aniya Allen’s grandfather and a longtime Minneapolis community activist. “You lived your best life in Hawaii, took trips, made sure your family was okay — what about our family?” added Sharrie Jennings, the grandmother of Garrett Jr. “These are God’s children, and you literally stole from them. You’re going to get everything you deserve.”
In a statement, the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce said it is fully cooperating with federal investigators and is working to ensure something like this can never happen again. The organization emphasized that it has taken steps to strengthen oversight and rebuild community trust after what it called a deep betrayal of its values.
The case against Weinhagen continues as prosecutors prepare to present detailed evidence of the alleged fraud. If convicted, he faces significant prison time and restitution requirements for the money he is accused of stealing. For many in Minneapolis, the scandal serves as a painful reminder of how deeply corruption can wound a community — especially when the victims are families already struggling with loss.
