NASHUA –– A local man has been convicted on multiple felony counts for defrauding an elderly man of over $166,000, announced Attorney General John M. Formella.
Dujae Richards, 31, was found guilty by a Hillsborough County-Southern District Superior Court jury of 12 class A felony counts of identity fraud, three class A felony counts of credit card fraud, and one class A felony count of theft by unauthorized taking.
In August 2020, Richards moved in with the 88-year-old victim, referred to as T.H., who suffered from impaired mobility and vision.
Richards agreed to help T.H. manage his finances but instead took advantage of the elderly man’s vulnerabilities to steal from him.
The evidence presented at the trial revealed that Richards unlawfully posed as T.H. to obtain a credit card linked to T.H.’s American Express account on August 10, 2020.
Between October 2020 and February 2021, Richards continued his fraudulent activities by unlawfully posing as T.H. to withdraw more than $125,000 from an annuity and multiple insurance policies T.H. held at New York Life Insurance Company.
Richards also made unauthorized withdrawals from T.H.’s TD Bank checking account and used his credit cards without permission.
The State presented evidence showing that Richards used the stolen money to pay personal debts and for a trip to a casino in Las Vegas among other expenditures.
The jury also ruled that Richards intentionally exploited T.H.’s age and physical conditions, which impaired T.H.’s ability to manage his property or protect his rights.
As a consequence, Richards faces an enhanced sentence of 10-30 years in the New Hampshire State Prison for each conviction, and could also be fined up to $4,000 for each crime. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled for Richards.
The case was investigated by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, assisted by the Nashua Police Department and the New Hampshire Insurance Department, and prosecuted by the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit and the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau.
In a call for vigilance, the Attorney General’s office urged anyone who suspects elder abuse or financial exploitation to contact their local police department or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services.
