The Office of the Attorney General in New Hampshire has disclosed that Dujae Richards, a 29-year-old resident of Manchester, has been formally indicted by the Hillsborough County-Southern District Grand Jury on multiple felony charges. These charges comprise eight counts of identity fraud, one count of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, and one count of fraudulent use of a credit card, all classified as class A felonies.
Details surrounding the charges suggest that between October 21, 2020, and February 5, 2021, Mr. Richards allegedly engaged in identity fraud by misrepresenting himself as another person, identified as T.H., to an insurance company for fraudulent gains. Additionally, Mr. Richards is accused of exercising unauthorized control over a checking account funds exceeding $1,500 belonging to T.H., from August 19, 2020, to February 23, 2021. The fraudulent use of a credit card charge is connected to allegations of Mr. Richards using T.H.’s credit card for cash advances totaling over $1,500, which occurred between August 14, 2020, and October 3, 2020.
The State is requesting an extended term of imprisonment for each indictment, under the allegation that Mr. Richards targeted T.H. by exploiting T.H.’s age and/or disability. This purported exploitation has raised concerns regarding T.H.’s capacity to manage their own property and financial resources or to protect their rights or interests. If convicted, Mr. Richards could face a sentence of 10-30 years in state prison and a fine of up to $4,000 for each charge.
It is important to note that these indictments represent formal charges, and as with all legal proceedings, Mr. Richards maintains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation leading to these indictments was a collaborative effort involving Investigator Anna Brewer-Croteau of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, the Nashua Police Department, the New Hampshire Insurance Department, and the New Hampshire Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services. The prosecution is being managed by Assistant Attorney General Bryan J. Townsend, II, from the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit, along with Attorney Kevin Scura from the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau.
