AG Ellison announced that he has reached a settlement with Minnesota nonprofit SJM Properties (“SJM”) and its founder and President, Steven Meldahl, alleging Meldahl ran a sham nonprofit and violated numerous other governance requirements under Minnesota charities laws. The settlement, also known as an Assurance of Discontinuance, requires that SJM be formally dissolved and prohibits Meldahl from serving as a director, officer or employee of a nonprofit and engaging in any activity that results in Meldahl having control or responsibility over any property held for a charitable purpose.

“The evidence surrounding this investigation—including my prior action against Meldahl as a landlord, his criminal prosecution, and my independent investigation—all prove that SJM is a complete sham created to further Meldahl’s private gain. Shutting it down is the right thing to do. My Office will continue working to hold people accountable when they break the law and use charities or charitable assets to enrich themselves.” – AG Ellison

https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2025/01/28_SJM-Properties.asp