Plea agreement reached in state film office investigation
Attorney General Tom Miller has entered into a plea agreement with a newly charged defendant in the Iowa Film Office case. Miller charged Chase Brandau, 25, of Minneapolis with second-degree theft, a Class D felony. Brandau pleaded guilty to the charge and agreed to continue to cooperate with the ongoing investigation of the Iowa Film Office case. Brandau, Wendy Weiner Runge, Zachary LeBeau and Matthias Saunders own Polynation Pictures and produced the film “The Scientist.” Weiner Runge is charged with one count of ongoing criminal conduct, one count of first-degree theft and three counts of first-degree fraud. Weiner Runge’s trial is scheduled for Feb. 7. Felony charges have been dismissed against LeBeau in exchange for his cooperation. Saunders pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge in exchange for his cooperation.