Embattled New Hampshire Casino Owner Arrested for Alleged Theft

Posted on: October 17, 2024, 05:49h. 

Last updated on: October 17, 2024, 09:49h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Concord Casino owner Andy Sanborn was charged with theft by deception on Wednesday for allegedly inflating the gross receipts of his New Hampshire charitable gaming property.

Andy Sanborn
Andy Sanborn, pictured above, was arrested on a theft charge in the continuing investigation related to his New Hampshire casino. (Image: Flickr)

Both the parent company of the Concord Casino, Win Win Win, and Sanborn, misrepresented the gross revenue by about $1M, according to state officials.

This falsification resulted in Win Win Win and Andy Sanborn receiving $188,474.33 more in grant monies than the amount to which they were due under the grant formula,” New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella said in a recent statement.

The grant came from New Hampshire’s Main Street Relief Fund 1.0, which provided assistance to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

State officials have investigated Sanborn, a former state senator, for how he spent $844K in COVID relief funds earmarked for the Concord Casino.

He used some of the money to allegedly buy two Porsche cars and a Ferrari. The Ferrari was for his wife, Laurie Sanborn, a state representative, authorities said.

The relief fund wasn’t meant to be used for casinos, officials claim. State officials have told him to sell the Concord Casino, and they suspended his casino license. His lawyers are attempting to get him an extension for the sale of the casino.

Sanborn’s Lawyers Respond

In response to the arrest, Sanborn’s attorneys released a statement to the Concord Monitor, which criticized the latest actions by the Attorney General’s office.

The same AG who has been enjoined repeatedly for violations of Mr. Sanborn’s constitutional rights by three NH Superior Court judges, who has had his legal positions soundly rejected time and again by Administrative Law Judges, and whose office is currently facing potential sanctions for prosecutorial misconduct, has now arrested Mr. Sanborn on the eve of a sale to a qualified buyer,” Sanborn’s lawyers said.

“We are disappointed, but not surprised. And we remain confident that the NH judiciary will continue to do justice and hold the AG accountable.”

Sanborn sued the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office for allegedly violating protections given to attorney-client communications related to a search of documents, the New Hampshire Bulletin reported.

Second Casino Proposal

Sanborn is currently attempting to open a second casino in Concord. Plans call for a 43K-square-foot gaming property.

The proposed casino was challenged in court by local resident Kassey Cameron, who claimed the project violated local zoning regulations and that it was improperly approved. That case is being heard by the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

Other residents have also voiced complaints about traffic and environmental impacts if the casino were to open. Some residents even claim the gaming property would lead to the risk of prostitution and illegal drugs.