Lansing — Stephanie Chatfield, former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield’s wife who previously pleaded guilty to embezzlement, was sentenced Monday to six months of probation, 25 hours of community service and a $2,000 fine.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office confirmed the sentence, which was set by Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Morgan Cole. It came after state prosecutors and Stephanie Chatfield finalized a plea deal last month.
Stephanie Chatfield pleaded guilty to a single felony count of embezzling less than $1,000 from a nonprofit organization. She had faced two more serious charges of embezzling between $1,000 and $20,000. Those felonies would have carried penalties of up to 10 years behind bars.
Lee Chatfield, a prolific political fundraiser, served in the Michigan House from 2015 through 2020. He held the top position in the chamber in 2019 and 2020. The Chatfields are from Levering in Emmet County.
Prosecutors have alleged that Lee and Stephanie Chatfield repeatedly moved money from the Peninsula Fund, a nonprofit account the ex-speaker used to raise money from disclosed donors, to make $152,270 in direct payments on their personal credit card.
Some were legitimate nonprofit expenses, while others weren’t, prosecutors have said.
“Proximity to influence does not grant immunity from accountability, and no one can use their nexus to power to unlawfully enrich themselves,” Nessel said on Monday. “Mrs. Chatfield was a willing participant on the Peninsula Fund gravy train, enjoying a lifestyle funded by money meant to support public welfare.
“My office remains committed to pursuing and prosecuting those who treat these types of accounts as personal piggy banks.”
The Peninsula Fund’s payments ended up amounting to 99.4% of the credit card’s spending over a period of more than one year, according to an accountant who was hired by the prosecutors.
Thirteen felony charges remain pending against Lee Chatfield, who was once viewed as a rising star in Republican politics.
Stephanie Chatfield declined to make a statement in court, according to the Lansing political newsletter Michigan Information & Research Service News.
Nessel’s office announced the charges against the Chatfields in April 2024. The probe dated back to January 2022.
cmauger@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Former Michigan House speaker’s wife gets probation, fine
Reporting by Craig Mauger, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Craig Mauger, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
