Current:Home > InvestLawyers for New Hampshire casino owner fight fraud allegations at hearing-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Lawyers for New Hampshire casino owner fight fraud allegations at hearing
View Date:2024-12-23 23:12:19
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A former state senator and casino owner accused of buying luxury cars with a fraudulently obtained COVID-19 relief loan kept financial records that were “sloppy at best” and nefarious at worst, an auditor testified Monday. But his attorney argued that the state is trying to destroy his business based on a sloppy investigation.
Andy Sanborn, a Republican from Bedford, did not attend the hearing he requested to appeal the state Lottery Commission’s August decision to permanently revoke his gaming operator’s license. His attorney said Sanborn was at a Boston hospital, accompanied by his wife, Laurie, a leader in the New Hampshire House.
Sanborn owns the Concord Casino within The Draft Sports Bar and Grill in Concord and is seeking to open another, much larger, charitable gaming venue a few miles (kilometers) away. But the commission argues that his license should be revoked for four reasons, though it only needs one. It said he improperly obtained federal funds, misrepresented how he spent the money, paid himself large sums as rent and failed to keep accurate records overall.
“This case is about the public’s confidence in charitable gaming. It’s about accountability,” said Senior Assistant Attorney General Jessica King. “At its core, the evidence will show that Mr. Sanborn was co-mingling funds, mislabeling personal expenses as business expenses and running a financially-based business without regard to important regulations put in place as safeguards in this high risk industry.”
According to the investigation, Sanborn fraudulently obtained $844,000 in funding from the Small Business Administration between December 2021 and February 2022. Casinos and charitable gaming facilities weren’t eligible for such loans, but Sanborn omitted his business name, “Concord Casino,” from his application and listed his primary business activity as “miscellaneous services.”
He’s accused of spending $181,000 on two Porsche race cars and $80,000 on a Ferrari for his wife. Sanborn also paid himself more than $183,000 for what he characterized as rent for his Concord properties, investigators said.
In his opening statement, Sanborn’s attorney said the rent payments reflected the casino’s expansion to multiple floors of its building, and that the commission reached conclusions about business expenses based on internal documents that hadn’t yet been adjusted for final reporting. But the main problem, Mark Knights said, is that the state’s entire case is built on allegations about the COVID-19 relief loan that it hasn’t proven.
Sanborn had his doubts that the business was eligible, he said, but relied on the advice of a consultant. That doesn’t make it fraud, Knights added.
“It’s an incomplete story that has yawning gaps in the evidence that are the result of an incomplete and, frankly, sloppy investigation,” he said.
The state’s only witness was Lottery Commission auditor Leila McDonough, who said she was extremely concerned about irregularities in Sanborn’s record keeping. Compared to other casino owners, he didn’t seem to take compliance with state regulations seriously, she testified.
“He’s been the most difficult and challenging to work with. He doesn’t seem to think that rules and laws apply to him,” she said.
On cross-examination, McDonough acknowledged describing Sanborn as cooperative in 2021 and saying that he appeared willing to fix any issues identified by her audit.
At the time the allegations were announced in August, officials said federal authorities had been notified and that the state had begun a criminal investigation.
veryGood! (5)
Related
- Unexpected pairing: New documentary tells a heartwarming story between Vietnam enemies
- Teen Mom Stars Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley’s Daughter Leah Looks All Grown Up in Rare Photo
- DeSantis, longtime opponent of state spending on stadiums, allocates $8 million for Inter Miami
- Taylor Swift's London shows not affected by Vienna cancellations, British police say
- Avril Lavigne’s Ex Mod Sun Is Dating Love Is Blind Star Brittany Wisniewski, Debuts Romance With a Kiss
- A father lost his son to sextortion swindlers. He helped the FBI find the suspects
- Katie Ledecky, Nick Mead to lead US team at closing ceremony in Paris
- The 10 college football transfers that will have the biggest impact
- Investigators believe Wisconsin kayaker faked his own death before fleeing to eastern Europe
- Taylor Swift cancels Vienna Eras tour concerts after two arrested in alleged terror plot
Ranking
- Here's what 3 toys were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame this year
- Kelsea Ballerini announces new album, ‘Patterns.’ It isn’t what you’d expect: ‘I’m team no rules’
- Nearly 1 in 4 Americans is deficient in Vitamin D. How do you know if you're one of them?
- Montana sheriff says 28-year-old cold case slaying solved
- Keke Palmer Says Ryan Murphy “Ripped” Into Her Over Scream Queens Schedule
- 'Take care': Utah executes Taberon Dave Honie in murder of then-girlfriend's mother
- Is yogurt healthy? Why you need to add this breakfast staple to your routine.
- Water woes linger in New Orleans after wayward balloon causes power glitch, pressure drop
Recommendation
-
Democrat Janelle Bynum flips Oregon’s 5th District, will be state’s first Black member of Congress
-
Christian Coleman, delayed by ban, finally gets shot at Olympic medal
-
Montana sheriff says 28-year-old cold case slaying solved
-
Ridiculousness’ Lauren “Lolo” Wood Shares Insight Into Co-Parenting With Ex Odell Beckham Jr.
-
DWTS’ Sasha Farber and Jenn Tran Prove They're Closer Than Ever Amid Romance Rumors
-
Dementia patient found dead in pond after going missing from fair in Indiana, police say
-
How Victor Montalvo honors Mexican roots in breaking journey to Paris Olympics
-
Who Is Olympian Raven Saunders: All About the Masked Shot Put Star