LANSING, MI – Lee Chatfield, former speaker of the state House of Representatives, was ordered to stand trial on charges alleging he misused state, campaign and non-profit funds.
Chatfield, 35, R-Levering, and his wife, Stephanie Chatfield, had their cases bound over Friday, May 30, to Ingham County Circuit Court.
Related: Former state House speaker wants embezzlement, other charges dismissed
Defense attorneys had asked charges against the couple be dismissed at the close of a preliminary examination in late February before East Lansing District Judge Molly Hennessy Greenwalt.
Stephanie Chatfield, left, enters East Lansing District Court on Thursday, Feb. 27. (John Agar | MLive)John Agar
Testimony was focused of money received from the non-profit Peninsula Fund, his own electoral political action committees and mileage reimbursements, as well as trips to the Bahamas and elsewhere.
Related: Ex-state House speaker’s brother didn’t know who funded trips to Bahamas, Las Vegas
“Our investigation uncovered extensive evidence of elaborate schemes to embezzle and misappropriate private and public funds to bankroll Lee Chatfield’s lifestyle during his time as Speaker of the House,” state Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement.
Related: Ex-House speaker funded lavish lifestyle with nonprofit ‘dark money,’ prosecutors say
“I am glad to see this case finally move forward to a trial in Circuit Court. My office will continue to pursue public corruption with every tool at our disposal and push for stronger transparency and good governance in our state.”
The state says Lee Chatfield used non-profit funds for personal credit-card expenses, sought mileage reimbursement for travel that did not occur and used a “check kickback scheme to move PAC money through staff and back to his pocket, and sublet an apartment, paid for by the Peninsula Fund, for his own profit.”
He was charged with four counts of embezzlement from a nonprofit, three counts of embezzlement by a public officer over $50, three counts of embezzlement, conducting a criminal enterprise, conspiracy to embezzle from a nonprofit, and violating the Charitable Trust Act.
His wife was charged with embezzlement from a nonprofit and conspiracy to commit embezzlement from a nonprofit.
