Ex–Minneapolis Chamber Leader Pleads Guilty in Federal Fraud Case
BY MN CRIME STAFF
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.
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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.
According to the guilty plea, Weinhagen began stealing money shortly after taking over the leadership role. He fabricated a consulting business called Synergy Partners and signed three sham agreements on the Chamber’s behalf using the alias “James Sullivan.” From December 2019 to April 2021, he caused the Chamber to pay Synergy Partners $107,500, which he deposited into an account he controlled for personal use.
Prosecutors say the scheme escalated in November 2020 when Weinhagen secretly opened a $200,000 line of credit in the Chamber’s name, later transferring $125,000 into his Synergy Partners account. Federal charging documents laid out the same conduct, noting that he used aliases, fake identities and repeated misrepresentations to funnel Chamber funds into accounts he controlled.
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One of the most striking admissions involved reward money set aside after two children were killed and a third was injured in separate shootings in north Minneapolis in May 2021. The Chamber contributed $30,000 to Crime Stoppers of Minnesota to fund three $10,000 rewards for tips. A year later, with the cases still unsolved and the rewards unclaimed, Weinhagen contacted Crime Stoppers, asked about the status of the payouts and then directed that the $30,000 be returned. He gave Crime Stoppers his home address but falsely claimed it was the Chamber’s new address. A check was mailed on June 6, 2022. He kept the money and used it for personal expenses.
Federal records show Weinhagen also used a Chamber credit card in January 2022 to pay more than $15,700 for a Hawaii trip that included first-class airfare and an oceanfront room at a resort. He later created fake documents to make the charges appear legitimate.
After the Chamber terminated his employment in June 2024, prosecutors say Weinhagen continued using deception to obtain money. In January 2025, he applied for a $54,661 loan from SoFi Bank and falsely claimed he earned $425,000 a year from a Minnesota-based restaurant holding company. He submitted a fake paystub to support the application.
A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
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