CONCORD – Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Dujae Richards, age 32, of Nottingham, has been sentenced in the Hillsborough County-Southern District Superior Court on 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.
Mr. Richards was convicted of these charges on October 23, 2023, following a jury trial. Mr. Richards was subject to an extended term of imprisonment because the jury found that in committing his crimes, he took advantage of the victim, T.H.’s, age (65 years of age or older) or disability.
The Court sentenced Mr. Richards to serve 8-20 years in the New Hampshire State Prison, stand committed, on the identity fraud convictions, each to be served concurrently. The Court suspended one year of the minimum term for ten years following release from incarceration. As part of the suspended sentence, Mr. Richards, among other things, may not serve as a fiduciary for any elderly, disabled or impaired adult, and must pay restitution of $166,066.71.
On the theft and credit card fraud convictions, the Court sentenced Mr. Richards to serve 10-20 years in the New Hampshire State Prison, fully suspended, with the suspended term ending 20 years after release on the identity fraud sentences. The terms of the suspended sentence for these charges are identical to those imposed on the identity fraud sentences. The theft and credit card fraud sentences are concurrent with one another, but consecutive to the identity fraud convictions if imposed.
Evidence presented at trial showed that in August 2020, Mr. Richards moved in with T.H., an 88-year-old man who had impaired mobility and vision, according to a previous news release. Mr. Richards agreed to help T.H. manage his finances. On August 10, 2020, Mr. Richards unlawfully posed as T.H. in order to obtain a credit card associated with T.H.’s American Express credit account. Between October 2020 and February 2021, Mr. Richards unlawfully posed as T.H. in order to obtain more than $125,000 from an annuity and multiple insurance policies T.H. held at New York Life Insurance Company.
Between August 2020 and February 2021, Mr. Richards also obtained funds from T.H.’s TD Bank checking account without T.H.’s authorization. Between August 2020 and October 2020, Mr. Richards used credit cards in T.H.’s name knowing that his use of those cards was unauthorized. In total, the State presented evidence that Mr. Richards unlawfully obtained more than $166,000 from T.H., which Mr. Richards used to pay outstanding personal debts and to travel and stay at a casino in Las Vegas, among other things.
This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the New Hampshire Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, Nashua Police Department, and New Hampshire Insurance Department.
The matter was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Attorney General Bryan J. Townsend, II, of the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit, and Assistant Attorney General Zachary Frish of the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau. The trial team also included investigative paralegal, Rachelle Simon; and victim-witness advocate, Sunny Mulligan-Shea.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation, please contact your local police department or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (1-800-949-0470).