Andy Sanborn, a former state senator and owner of Concord Casino, found himself in legal hot water this week. The Attorney General’s Office of New Hampshire announced on Tuesday that Sanborn was arrested and charged with theft by deception related to his dealings with pandemic aid. This charge, a class A felony, could lead to a significant prison term ranging from 7 ½ to 15 years if convicted.
According to New Hampshire Public Radio, the specific allegation against Sanborn involves nearly $190,000 in improperly obtained funds from the “Main Street Relief Fund.” Attorney General John Formella pointed out that Sanborn allegedly inflated his casino’s gross receipts by almost $1 million to boost his grant amount by approximately $188,474. This case appears to be separate from another fraud investigation into Sanborn’s use of nearly $844,000 from a different pandemic loan program initiated 13 months prior.
Previous legal and financial issues:
Sanborn’s legal troubles are not new. His casino was shut down in December following a judicial finding that he and his wife, Rep. Laurie Sanborn, misrepresented the operations of their charitable gaming business in a loan application. This earlier case revealed misuse of funds, including purchasing luxury vehicles such as three race cars, two Porsches, and a Ferrari, totaling $181,250.
Despite the state’s request to revoke his charitable gaming license, the judge decided in December that Sanborn should sell the casino no later than September. His attorneys are now seeking to push this deadline further, citing a potential buyer pending approval from the Attorney General’s Office.
In addition to his criminal charges, Sanborn’s legal team has initiated a lawsuit against the Attorney General’s Office in Merrimack County Superior Court. They claim that during a search warrant execution, confidential records, including those covered by attorney-client privilege, were improperly seized and reviewed by the investigative team.
This legal struggle extends beyond the courtroom. Sanborn’s attorneys argue that the recent arrest is an attempt to jeopardize his ability to sell his casino, suggesting a pattern of prosecutorial misconduct by the Attorney General’s Office. They express confidence, however, that the New Hampshire judiciary will hold the AG accountable and continue to side with them in legal challenges.
Implications for casino sale and licensing:
The arrest comes at a critical time, as Sanborn was on the verge of selling the casino to a qualified buyer. New Hampshire lottery rules create additional complications, as a felony conviction could prevent any business or individual from holding a gaming license for ten years. The outcome of this case could, therefore, have significant implications not only for Sanborn but also for the prospective buyer of the Concord Casino, currently operating as Win Win Win.
Despite the mounting challenges, Sanborn’s legal team remains hopeful. They underscore their track record of successful legal defenses against the Attorney General’s Office and anticipate that this pattern will continue. The charges against Sanborn are merely accusations at this stage. Like all defendants, he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. This principle ensures that all parties receive a fair trial under the law.
