New Hampshire
Department of Justice
Office of the Attorney General
Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Dujae Richards, age 31, has been convicted 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.
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. 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.
In addition to convicting Mr. Richards, the jury also concluded that in committing his crimes, Mr. Richards intentionally took advantage of T.H.’s age or physical condition that impaired T.H.’s ability to manage his property or financial resources or to protect his rights or interests. As a result, Mr. Richards is subject to an enhanced term of imprisonment on each conviction, up to 10-30 years in the New Hampshire State Prison. Mr. Richards could also receive up to a $4,000 fine on each conviction. Mr. Richards’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the Nashua Police Department and the 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, with assistance from 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).
Source:
Dujae Richards Convicted of Stealing Elderly Victim’s Identity
