Federal Court Action

Man indicted for stealing $225,000 from veteran in nursing home

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by Alex Nuti – di Biasi, Journal-Opinion
A federal grand jury has indicted Donald Estes, a 49-year-old Bath, NH man, on four counts of bank fraud and four counts of mail fraud after he allegedly stole $225,000 from an elderly disabled veteran living in a nursing home in Vermont. 

Per a news release, the victim was unable to independently manage his money or make decisions. The indictment states that the veteran’s mother had been serving as his legal guardian before she passed away.

On July 21, 2020, the veteran’s nursing home contacted Estes, a friend, asking whether he would serve as the veteran’s legal guardian. Estes never applied to become the guardian. Instead, Estes had the veteran sign an agreement granting Estes access to the victim’s bank account. 

According to the indictment, Estes conducted over 100 withdrawals from the man’s bank account at Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank between Aug. 3, 2020-Dec. 6, 2023. 

The indictment states that Estes misused the funds he took from the veteran’s account on personal purchases, including a snowmobile, a vacation to Tennessee, and jewelry for ex-girlfriends.

The veteran, who had been receiving monthly disability payments from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, died in February 2024. 

The indictment was on Oct. 22. The U.S. District Attorney in New Hampshire announced the indictment yesterday after the federal government shutdown ended. 

Estes faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine if convicted. 

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Categories: Federal Court Action

9 replies »

  1. As far as I’m concerned, Estes should be hung for this. Stealing is bad enough but from a disabled vet? Makes me sick!

  3. Having the court appoint you as a guardian for another person is a job I would never do again as you can control the life and death of this person. The court has strict rules as how the money is used and you need to make a report as to how it is used. Mr. Estes is the worst kind of crook. Comment from Richard Day.

  4. The State and town also confiscates the Vet’s money via taxes. And I found out the town (Townshend) requires a permit for a burial, that’s a tax on the person when they’re dead. Just buried my brother’s ashes. Think what will happen when the next ice age arrives, every 10,000 years, we’re due. The land is scraped heavily.

  7. So this unfortunate man was unable to make financial decisions, and his mom took care of things until her passing and then the nursing home contacted the accused to take over. I certainly am not excusing the person that stole this man’s money but question how it was allowed to happen. The nursing home should have contacted the office of aging or someone to oversee the transition of the person handling the finances. Somebody here dropped the ball. Yes, prosecute the guy that stole the money from this man but someone needs to sue the nursing home for failure to protect this vulnerable adult. This is just another case of the lack of oversight taking place at these nursing home and care facilities.