(Source: MIRS.news, Published 02/04/2025) St. Clair County Circuit Court records show that Yale Area Chamber of Commerce has filed a lawsuit against Sen. Dan Lauwers (R-Brockway)’s wife, Kellie Lauwers, who reportedly stole $32,300 from the chamber. 

MIRS’ efforts to reach Kellie Lauwers, who had been the chamber’s treasurer, the Senator and her attorney were not successful. 

The Michigan State Police, which is conducting a criminal investigation, acknowledged it is investigating an embezzlement complaint involving the Yale Area COC. When the investigation is complete, the report will be forwarded to the prosecutor for any charging decisions.  

A message to the chamber’s attorney, David Russell, was not successful. 

The Detroit News reported that the chamber uncovered “discrepancies” in its financial statements in November and later determined that Kellie Lauwers "had been writing herself checks in large amounts out of the chamber's bank accounts," according to the lawsuit. 

The suit accused Kellie Lauwers of forging names on the checks to get around the organization's two-signature requirement for expenditures and alleges she improperly used the group's debit card “for her own personal expenditures, including use at Dollar General,” the Detroit News reported. 

The suit claims Kellie Lauwers admitted taking the money when confronted in November. 

Through the suit, Yale Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking a $96,900 judgment against Kellie Lauwers, and said the organization believes she "has begun the process of transferring assets to insiders or other individuals for the purpose of avoiding the chamber's claims,” the Detroit News reported. 

Progress Michigan said the news “brings important questions” for the Senator, including what did he know and when did he know it. 

Sam Inglot, executive director of Progress Michigan, asked if Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) would investigate any “potential discrepancies with his account of this situation?” 

Inglot added: “The fact that Senator Lauwers’ own wife is being sued and investigated for embezzlement, and currently lists Anne Minard, another person who has been charged with multiple felonies in the past, including embezzlement, as the record-keeper for his campaign demands further investigation.” 

Minard and her husband, Robert Minard, are both facing felony charges of conducting a criminal enterprise and conspiracy to commit that offense as well as false pretenses and embezzlement. 

Dan Lauwers was recently named chair of the caucus's 2026 campaign efforts. 

The lawsuit can be accessed here.