LANSING– Today, Anne and Robert (Rob) Minard were arraigned before the Honorable Lisa L. Babcock in the 54B District Court in East Lansing on multiple felony charges including Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.  Nessel charged the married couple for their alleged role in misappropriating funds from three non-profits and a Political Action Committee tied to former Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield.  Both defendants pled not guilty on all counts. 

Each defendant was given a $50,000 personal recognizance bond.  They will next appear before the Chief Judge Molly Hennessey Greenwalt in the 54B District Court for a probable cause conference on January 19th and a preliminary examination has been scheduled for January 25th.  

They have each been charged as follows: 

• One Count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise; a 20-year felony; 
• One Count of Conspiracy to Conduct a Criminal Enterprise, a 20-year felony; 
• Three Counts of False Pretenses - $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, 5-year felonies; 
• One Count of False Pretenses - $20,000 or more but less than $50,000, a 15-year felony; 
• One Count of Embezzlement - $100,000.00 or more; a 20-year felony, and  
• One Count of Filing a False Tax Return; a 5-year felony. 

Anne Minard has also been charged individually with: 

• Two Counts of Embezzlement - $1,000 or more but less than $20,000 from a non-profit or charitable organization, a 10-year felony; and 
• Two Counts of False Pretenses - $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, each 5-year felonies. 

And Rob Minard has been charged individually with one additional count of False Pretenses - $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, a 5-year felony. 

The affidavits for Anne Minard and Robert Minard are linked here.