Ex-Minneapolis Chamber CEO Indicted for Embezzlement Resigns from School Board
Jonathan Weinhagen, the former president of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce who was indicted this week for allegedly embezzling over $200,000, has resigned his seat on the Mounds View school board, effective immediately.
The Mounds View Public Schools Board announced Weinhagen’s resignation today, October 25, 2025. The 42-year-old appeared in federal court yesterday on charges related to the alleged embezzlement from the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce during his tenure as CEO. Prosecutors allege Weinhagen misappropriated funds, including $30,000 donated to Crime Stoppers following the tragic 2021 shootings that killed two children and critically injured another.
Federal charges detail a scheme involving a fabricated consulting company, Synergy Partners, used to funnel money from the chamber. Weinhagen allegedly contracted with this company under the alias “James Sullivan” and used the chamber’s credit card for personal expenses, such as a first-class family vacation to Hawaii falsely documented as business travel. He is also accused of creating a fake obituary for “James Sullivan” to conceal the embezzlement when a line of credit raised suspicions. This case highlights the importance of financial oversight within non-profit organizations. Weinhagen was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond and plans to retain attorney Joseph Dixon, who has not yet responded to requests for comment, according to reports.
The school board will discuss filling Weinhagen’s seat, which has a term ending January 3, 2028. Weinhagen previously led the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce before joining the Minneapolis chamber in 2015, leaving in 2024 amid an internal investigation that revealed a $500,000 budget shortfall and subsequent staff layoffs. You can find more information about non-profit governance from the Council of Nonprofits.
Officials have not yet scheduled Weinhagen’s next court appearance.
