| 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. |