Cheryl Rogers Sentenced for Felony Theft by Deception and Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Adult

Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Cheryl Rogers, age 35, of Keene, pleaded guilty and has been sentenced in the Cheshire County Superior Court to one class A felony count of theft by deception and one class A felony count of financial exploitation of an elderly adult.

An investigation by the Keene Police Department revealed that between June 8, 2020, and August 18, 2021, Ms. Rogers utilized a mobile telephone application to obtain free local telephone numbers. Ms. Rogers used one telephone number to send text messages to E.L., a local Keene man, pretending to be her father, W.R. While posing as her father, Ms. Rogers falsely told E.L. that Ms. Rogers had cancer and needed money for treatment. Ms. Rogers deceived E.L. into believing that he would be reimbursed for money paid to Ms. Rogers.

Further, between July 1, 2021, and August 18, 2021, Ms. Rogers used another telephone number to send text messages to E.L., pretending to be a financial institution representative. She told E.L. that E.L. would be subject to criminal charges and other legal action if E.L. failed to pay money to Ms. Rogers. In total, Ms. Rogers unlawfully obtained $45,499 from E.L.

On the theft by deception charge, the Court sentenced Ms. Rogers to serve 12 months in the House of Corrections, stand committed, and ordered her to pay $45,499 in restitution to E.L. On the financial exploitation charge, the Court sentenced Ms. Rogers to serve 3½-7 years in the New Hampshire State Prison, all of which is suspended for 10 years. As conditions of her suspended sentence, Ms. Rogers must pay restitution and participate in drug treatment court, if accepted. She is prohibited from caring for elderly or vulnerable adults and may not serve as a fiduciary for any person. The Court also sentenced Ms. Rogers to serve 5 years' probation.

The case was investigated by the Keene Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Attorney General Bryan J. Townsend, II, of the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit of the Attorney General's Office, and Attorney Zachary Frish of the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau.

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).

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Cheryl Rogers Sentenced for Felony Theft by Deception and Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Adult

Suspended Lincoln attorney gets probation for financially exploiting vulnerable woman

A Lincoln attorney whose law license was suspended after her arrest on allegations that she financially exploited a woman with developmental disabilities for whom she was a court-appointed guardian has been sentenced to five years of probation.

Christine Vanderford, 48, also was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and serve 90 days in county jail starting May 10, unless it's later waived by the court.

Christine Vanderford

Lancaster County District Judge Robert Otte found her guilty of abuse of a vulnerable adult and not guilty of felony theft at a bench trial this summer.

At a hearing Wednesday afternoon, her attorney, Bob Creager, argued for a new trial, saying there were unresolved issues at trial, including whether a trust could be a victim or qualify as a "vulnerable adult," as the state had alleged in the case, and whether Vanderford had criminal intent. 

"This is a strange statute. You exploit someone by exploiting them," Creager said.

He argued that when Vanderford wrote checks from the trust to herself, paying herself for the work she was doing for the woman, the conduct wasn't wrongful or unauthorized. She contended that the woman's father had OK'd it. 

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jeremy Lavene pointed out that the woman's father denied it at trial.

"She was wrongfully taking money for her own benefit and not the benefit of (the victim)," he said. "Clearly there's intent here."

Lavene said Vanderford was having financial difficulties and paid herself more than $60,000 between 2014 and 2016 to keep her law firm afloat when she got behind on payments and maxed out her line of credit. 

The Lincoln police investigation started with a tip from Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services in June 2017 alleging that Vanderford, who had been appointed by the court to serve as a 33-year-old woman’s guardian, had been writing herself checks on a trust set up for the woman's benefit.

Creager said Vanderford was doing what she was asked to do, including taking the woman to medical appointments and helping her with the things her mother did for her before she died.

In the end, the judge gave her probation. 

 

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Suspended Lincoln attorney gets probation for financially exploiting vulnerable woman

Lincoln attorney arrested for reportedly stealing $60K from vulnerable adult

LINCOLN, Neb. – Lincoln Police arrested a 47-year-old attorney for financial exploitation after she reportedly stole over $60,000 from a vulnerable adult.

According to LPD, in April 2018, DHHS reported the alleged financial exploitation of a vulnerable person to LPD.

In 2014, Christine Vanderford, 47, a Lincoln attorney, became the court-appointed guardian for a 33-year-old vulnerable adult.

According to police, investigators served a search warrant at Vanderford’s law office, processed financial evidence, and found she had stolen over $60,000 from the victim’s account.

On Thursday, Vanderford turned herself in to police and was arrested for exploitation of a vulnerable adult and felony theft by deception.

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Lincoln attorney arrested for reportedly stealing $60K from vulnerable adult