LANSING — Anne Minard, a former staffer for ex-House Speaker Lee Chatfield, will likely avoid prison time over a series of financial misconduct charges after agreeing to testify against her old boss at his trial.
Minard at an Oct. 23 hearing agreed to plead guilty to one count of filing a false tax return and another count of embezzling at least $1,000 but less than $20,000 from a nonprofit organization during her time as an aide to Chatfield. Ten other criminal counts, including a criminal conspiracy charge, will be dismissed under the agreement, which was accepted by Ingham County Circuit Court Judge James Jamo.
“Guilty, your honor,” Minard pleaded after Jamo asked if she understood the agreement.
Minard will be sentenced Dec. 3. Prosecutors recommended 36 months of probation, with a possible six-month jail sentence for any violations of the plea agreement. The embezzlement charge she pleaded guilty to carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, if convicted. Filing a false tax return carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, if convicted.
State prosecutors had previously alleged in court filings Anne Minard and her husband Rob Minard, another former Chatfield aide, used their political connections to enrich themselves, misappropriating funds from a series of political nonprofit accounts they had ties to, including through Chatfield.
Chatfield, a Republican from Levering who served as Michigan’s House Speaker in 2019 and 2020, is set to face trial over 13 felony financial charges. Anne Minard has agreed to testify at Chatfield’s trial, which is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 21, 2026.
As a key aide to the former speaker, Anne Minard’s agreement to testify is a likely boost to the state’s prosecution against Chatfield. Chatfield had a reputation as a strong fundraiser, and Anne Minard’s testimony can possibly give prosecutors a window into how hundreds of thousands of dollars flowed through political nonprofits.
Mary Chartier, Chatfield’s defense attorney, said Anne Minard’s plea deal was “not surprising.” “The Attorney General is willing to make a deal with anyone to try to build a case against Mr. Chatfield, including a known and admitted liar and thief,” Cartier said. “… Any reasonable person will be able to see through whatever claims Anne Minard tries to come up with to avoid a lengthy prison sentence. I look forward to cross-examining Ms. Minard with vigorous attention to detail.”
Rob Minard, who was also charged in Dec. 2023, did not enter a plea agreement Oct. 23. His attorney, however, signaled to reporters following the hearing it was still possible a similar agreement could be reached before his trial is tentatively set to begin Nov. 10.
“We’re talking about talking. We haven’t gotten there yet. But both sides are interested in talking about talking,” said Robert Harrison, a defense attorney representing Rob Minard.
Gerald Gleeson, Anne Minard’s defense attorney, downplayed the fact that Anne Minard had reached a plea agreement but Rob Minard was still heading to trial. “The public should not view one person pleading guilty as the definitive statement on their marriage. They’re wonderful people who still love each other,” he said. Harrison said Anne Minard maintains spousal privilege and could not be compelled to testify against Rob Minard at trial.
As part of the plea agreement, Anne Minard agreed to pay back $37,403 to the state as amends for a fraudulent income tax return.
In a Dec. 2023 press conference announcing charges against the Minards, Attorney General Dana Nessel said the Minards illegally obtained at least $525,000 from 2018 through 2020. The pair initially faced multiple felony charges, including embezzlement, conducting a criminal enterprise, and intent to defraud under false pretenses.
In previous court hearings and filings, prosecutors have alleged Anne and Rob Minard orchestrated a scheme to enrich themselves through inflated reimbursement requests and misrepresented expenses. Anne and Rob Minard would request reimbursement for costs incurred for political reasons, like travel, meals and campaign materials, but the costs were actually incurred by different organizations, including political nonprofit funds with ties to Chatfield, according to state prosecutors. Additionally, the reimbursement requests filed by the couple were inflated to be of greater value than the actual costs, court papers allege.
Lee Chatfield’s wife, Stephanie Chatfield, also faces one count each of embezzlement and conspiracy related to the probe. Matt Newburg, Stephanie Chatfield’s defense attorney, didn’t immediately return a message left with his office Thursday.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Free Press columnist M.L. Elrick and Lansing Bureau Chief Paul Egan contributed.
Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Key aide to ex-Speaker Lee Chatfield takes plea deal to testify against him
Reporting by Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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