Former Michigan House Speaker aides to stand trial on several felony charges

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Anne and Robert Minard, both top aides of former Michigan Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield, will stand trial on multiple felony charges including running a criminal enterprise and embezzlement.

54B District Court Chief Judge Molly Hennessey Greenwalt bound over the Minards, of Bath Township, to stand trial in the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County.

In December, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged Anne and Robert Minard with running a criminal enterprise, conspiracy to run a criminal enterprise and embezzlement.

The couple operated a consulting firm, as well as numerous political nonprofits while working for the former speaker. Nessel alleges the pair ran a complex operation to “financially exploit” those organizations and misappropriated more than $500,000.

Both have been charged with:

• One count of conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony
• One count of conspiracy to conduct a criminal conspiracy, a 20-year felony
• Three counts of false pretenses, $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, five-year felonies
• One count of false pretenses, $20,000 or more but less than $50,000, a 15-year felony
• One count of embezzlement, $100,000 or more, a 20-year felony
• One count of filing a false tax return, a five-year felony

Robert Minard has also been charged individually with one additional count of false pretenses, $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, a five-year felony.

Anne Minard has also been charged with:

• Two counts of embezzlement, $1,000 or more but less than $20,000 from a nonprofit or charitable organization, a 10-year felony
• Two counts of false pretenses, $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, five-year felonies

“The Minards engaged in a vast, complex scheme of fraud, and through this deception, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from non-profits and political action committees,” Nessel said. “My department is pleased to see this case progress and remains committed to pursuing political operatives who violate the law for their own personal gain.”

The Minards are set to appear in the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County later this month.

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