Nessel announces criminal enterprise charges against former Speaker Chatfield and his wife

Former House Speaker Lee Chatfield at the State of the State address, Jan. 29, 2020 | Andrew Roth

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced charges against former state House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) and his wife, Stephanie Chatfield, following an investigation into the former lawmaker for financial misconduct and sexual assault. 

Michigan State Police began investigating the former lawmaker in December 2021 following a report filed by his sister-in-law, Rebekah Chatfield, that he had sexually assaulted her for more than a decade, beginning when she was 14 or 15 years old. Nessel’s office took over the case in September 2022 and the investigation was expanded to include allegations that Chatfield had misappropriated funds.

“Our investigation has uncovered evidence that Lee Chatfield used various different schemes to embezzle, steal and convert both private and public monies to fund a lavish lifestyle that a state salary could not possibly afford,” Nessel said. 

Lee Chatfield faces 13 counts including charges of conducting a criminal enterprise, embezzlement and a violation of the Charitable Trust Act. Stephanie Chatfield faces two counts, embezzlement from a nonprofit organization and conspiracy to commit embezzlement from a nonprofit organization. 

The full list of charges announced against the Chatfields

Charges against Lee Chatfield:

• One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise; a 20-year felony

• Four counts of embezzlement from a nonprofit organization of $1,000 to $20,000; a felony punishable by 10 years’ incarceration and/or a $15,000 fine

• Three counts of embezzlement by a publicoOfficer of over $50; a felony punishable by 10 years’ incarceration and/or a $5,000 fine  

• One count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement from a nonprofit organization of $1,000 to $20,000; a felony punishable by 10 years’ incarceration and/or a $15,000 fine and an additional $10,000 fine 

• Three counts of embezzlement of $1,000 to $20,000; a felony punishable by 5 years’ incarceration and/or a $10,000 fine

• One count of a felony violation of the charitable trust act; a felony punishable by 5 years’ incarceration and/or a $10,000 fine 

Charges against Stephanie Chatfield:

• Embezzlement from a nonprofit Organization of $1,000 to $20,000; a felony punishable by 10 years’ incarceration and/or a $15,000 fine

• Conspiracy to commit embezzlement from a nonprofit organization of $1,000 to $20,000; a felony punishable by 10 years’ incarceration and/or a $15,000 fine and an additional $10,000 fine

Lee Chatfield served as House speaker from 2018 to 2020 and was first elected to the House in 2014. Over a period of six years, accounts under Lee’s control took in over $5 million, including more than $2 million in his final year as speaker, Nessel said. 

While the investigation into the Chatfield’s alleged financial crimes continues and further charges could be announced, Nessel said she had closed the sexual assault investigation without issuing charges.

“We do not have sufficient evidence under the relevant criminal statutes. Our investigation, though exhaustive, failed to produce evidence to meet proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the standard that must be met in order to bring charges,” Nessel said. 

Lee Chatfield Summons Felony 4 16 2024 Redacted

“We commend Rebekah’s strength, her bravery and her courage in stepping forward to tell her story, and her disclosure led to our office’s full investigation into allegations of other criminal activity. Were it not for her. We likely wouldn’t be here today announcing charges at all,” Nessel said. 

While the Advance was unable to reach Rebekah Chatfield’s attorney, Jamie White, for comment, White told Bridge Michigan that Chatfield was disappointed in the decision and that the Attorney General’s Office was unable to provide a reason as to why they did not to bring charges in the sexual assault investigation. 

Through the investigation, Nessel said they discovered Lee Chatfield had used a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization — the Peninsula Fund — to pay off his personal charges on credit cards, utilized a kickback scheme from his Political Action Committees and received improper mileage reimbursements from state monies for trips he did not take. She also alleged that Chatfield used money from the Peninsula Fund to rent and sublet an apartment, pocketing the money from the sublease.

From February 2020 to April 2021, the Chatfields converted Peninsula fund money for their own personal use, Nessel said. Over those 14 months Chatfield made $132,000 in charges on his personal Chase credit card, including purchases at several souvenir shops on a family vacation to Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.; luxury purchases at Ugg, Coach and a surf shop in Florida; groceries, purchases at restaurants and food deliveries.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel takes questions from reporters after announcing a number of charges against Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield and his wife, Stephanie Chatfield. | Kyle Davidson

All of the charges from this time period were paid for using money from the Peninsula Fund, Nessel said. While Lee Chatfield’s card was the one used for these charges, Stephanie Chatfield’s role was to monitor the balance and make payments from the Peninsula Fund’s accounts, Nessel said. 

In an email to the Advance, Lee Chatfield’s attorney, Mary Chartier, said they are prepared to fight the charges every step of the way, calling the charges “a baseless attack on a “prodigious fundraiser” for Republican candidates by a Democratic Attorney General.” She also said Nessel made the correct decision to close the sexual assault investigation without charges. 

Nessel said Lee Chatfield would be permitted to turn himself in, with Chartier saying he would be processed and arraigned in due course.

At the end of her announcement, Nessel called for stronger transparency and regulation on campaign finances in the state, calling the Michigan Campaign Finance Act toothless and “utterly worthless” as a deterrent for abuse of social welfare funds. 

“The statutes governing political forms and donor disclosures in this state couldn’t be more futile if they were literally drafted by crooks for the very purpose of violating them. The inherent weakness of these laws not only allows for pervasive corrupt behavior, it encourages it and fosters it,” Nessel said. 

Nessel also charged two former Chatfield aides with several felonies in December, including embezzlement, criminal enterprise and filing a false tax return. The individuals, Robert and Anne Minard, have pleaded not guilty. 

Stephanie Chatfield Summons Felony 4 16 2024 Redacted

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson echoed Nessel’s call for stronger financial disclosure laws in a statement released after the charges against the Chatfields were announced.

“As I read through the charges and outrageous revelations surrounding this case, what’s clear to me is that this culture of corruption must end. Our citizens deserve better than this,” Benson said.

“Michigan is consistently ranked dead last among all states for our transparency and ethics laws. A glimmer of hope today is found in the fact that lawmakers in the state House, the very chamber that former Speaker Chatfield used to oversee, have introduced legislation to begin addressing these and many other gaps in our current anti-corruption laws,” she said. 

Nessel and Benson have both said they will testify before the House Ethics and Oversight Committee on Thursday morning in support of legislation to create a cooling off period where lawmakers and state officials may not engage in lobbying activity for one year after the end of their term, and allowing the Secretary of State to apply for injunctive relief for complaints under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act.

At a press conference on April 16, 2024 Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a number of charges against Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield and his wife, Stephanie Chatfield on April 16, 2024. | Kyle Davidson

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