Andy Sanborn, a former state senator and proprietor of Harmony On line casino, discovered himself in authorized scorching water this week. The Lawyer Normal’s Workplace of New Hampshire introduced on Tuesday that Sanborn was arrested and charged with theft by deception associated to his dealings with pandemic support. This cost, a category A felony, might result in a major jail time period starting from 7 ½ to fifteen years if convicted.
In line with New Hampshire Public Radio, the particular allegation in opposition to Sanborn includes almost $190,000 in improperly obtained funds from the “Important Avenue Aid Fund.” Lawyer Normal John Formella identified that Sanborn allegedly inflated his on line casino’s gross receipts by virtually $1 million to spice up his grant quantity by roughly $188,474. This case seems to be separate from one other fraud investigation into Sanborn’s use of almost $844,000 from a special pandemic mortgage program initiated 13 months prior.
Earlier authorized and monetary points:
Sanborn’s authorized troubles aren’t new. His on line casino was shut down in December following a judicial discovering that he and his spouse, Rep. Laurie Sanborn, misrepresented the operations of their charitable gaming enterprise in a mortgage software. This earlier case revealed misuse of funds, together with buying luxurious autos corresponding to three race automobiles, two Porsches, and a Ferrari, totaling $181,250.
Regardless of the state’s request to revoke his charitable gaming license, the decide determined in December that Sanborn ought to promote the on line casino no later than September. His attorneys at the moment are in search of to push this deadline additional, citing a possible purchaser pending approval from the Lawyer Normal’s Workplace.
Along with his legal fees, Sanborn’s authorized staff has initiated a lawsuit in opposition to the Lawyer Normal’s Workplace in Merrimack County Superior Courtroom. They declare that in a search warrant execution, confidential information, together with these lined by attorney-client privilege, had been improperly seized and reviewed by the investigative staff.
This authorized wrestle extends past the courtroom. Sanborn’s attorneys argue that the current arrest is an try and jeopardize his means to promote his on line casino, suggesting a sample of prosecutorial misconduct by the Lawyer Normal’s Workplace. They specific confidence, nevertheless, that the New Hampshire judiciary will maintain the AG accountable and proceed to aspect with them in authorized challenges.
Implications for on line casino sale and licensing:
The arrest comes at a essential time, as Sanborn was on the verge of promoting the on line casino to a professional purchaser. New Hampshire lottery guidelines create extra issues, as a felony conviction might forestall any enterprise or particular person from holding a gaming license for ten years. The end result of this case might, subsequently, have important implications not just for Sanborn but additionally for the possible purchaser of the Harmony On line casino, at present working as Win Win Win.
Regardless of the mounting challenges, Sanborn’s authorized staff stays hopeful. They underscore their monitor document of profitable authorized defenses in opposition to the Lawyer Normal’s Workplace and anticipate that this sample will proceed. The fees in opposition to Sanborn are merely accusations at this stage. Like all defendants, he’s presumed harmless except confirmed responsible in a court docket of legislation. This precept ensures that each one events obtain a good trial beneath the legislation.
