A prominent Minneapolis CEO is set to enter a guilty plea after facing federal charges for allegedly embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the city's Regional Chamber of Commerce, funding a luxury lifestyle that included first-class travel and oceanfront holidays.
The Rise and Fall of a Business Leader
Jonathan Weinhagen, 42, saw a meteoric rise from working at his family's auto repair shop to securing an executive position at the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, eventually becoming president of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. The married father-of-four earned approximately $275,000 in 2023 before his abrupt resignation as CEO in June 2024.
His departure came just six weeks before the chamber announced it had conducted an internal financial investigation, revealing a $500,000 budget shortfall that directly resulted in staff layoffs. The probe discovered nearly $300,000 of chamber funds had vanished during Weinhagen's tenure.
Elaborate Fraud Scheme Uncovered
Federal prosecutors allege Weinhagen's fraudulent activities spanned from 2019 until his resignation in June 2024. The scheme involved creating a fictitious company called Synergy Partners under the alias 'James Sullivan'.
Weinhagen allegedly stole more than $200,000 through this entity before claiming the company had dissolved following Sullivan's death. To support this story, he reportedly posted a fabricated obituary on Legacy.com in 2024.
The charges further detail that Weinhagen used a Minneapolis chamber credit card for personal expenses, including funding a first-class family trip to Hawaii with luxury oceanfront accommodation. He also stands accused of attempting to fraudulently obtain a $55,000 loan from SoFi bank.
Stolen Charity Funds and Ongoing Lavish Lifestyle
In one particularly shocking allegation, prosecutors claim a $30,000 chamber donation intended for a Crime Stoppers reward fund for information on solving three shootings never reached its destination. Instead, Weinhagen allegedly had the funds refunded to his home address.
Since his resignation and while under investigation, Weinhagen and his wife have continued to enjoy an extravagant lifestyle. Social media posts show the couple smiling during trips to Copenhagen, New York, and other premium destinations, alongside images from Oktoberfest celebrations.
The couple resides in a half-million-dollar Minneapolis home featuring four bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, a three-car garage and 3,259 square feet of living space.
Former colleagues expressed shock at the allegations, describing Weinhagen as an 'energetic' and 'gregarious' leader whose work style could be 'polarizing'. Scott Burns, a co-worker, told the Star Tribune: 'When I first heard about it, it was like 'Good god, what?''
Weinhagen is expected to enter his guilty plea on Monday, marking a dramatic fall from grace for the once-respected business leader.
