The former lawmaker and the present proprietor of a casino, Andy Sanborn, faced an intense proceeding on the 11th of December while he was trying to hold onto his gaming permit, in the midst of claims of deceptively procuring federal pandemic aid.
Owner of Concord Casino Subjected to Allegations of Misappropriating $844,000 in Federal Loans
The Concord Casino’s owner, Andy Sanborn, is facing charges of employing almost $844,000 in loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) for unacceptable uses, which include the procurement of high-end vehicles.
The legal representatives of Sanborn, spearheaded by attorneys Zachary Hafer and Mark Knights, put up a defense on Monday by stating that it wasn’t Sanborn, but a business advisor, by name Michael Evans of SpringWest Capital Corp, New York, who was responsible for the application of the federal assistance. The New Hampshire Bulletin reported that Hafer and Knights fiercely refuted the accusations by the state, claiming Sanborn was misusing the aid to buy two supercars—Porsche race cars and a Ferrari, and emphatically stressed that Sanborn had no intent of fraudulence.
Knights advocated that there is no act of fraudulence when Sanborn and Win Win Win depended on someone whose expertise they trusted, and their action is purely devoid of any deceitful intent. He further pointed out during the hearings of the Department of Safety.
The defense tagged the state’s investigation as “carelessly conducted” and pointed out the omission of key witnesses from the Small Business Administration. Knights contended that the case put up by the state lacked solidity, and the accusations are purely based on a half-done and poorly conducted investigation.
Chase to Suspend Sanborn’s Gaming License by New Hampshire Lottery Commission
The charges from The New Hampshire Lottery Commission proposes an infinite suspension of Sanborn’s gaming license on the grounds of alleged improper application for federal aid and failure to present truthful financial records of his gaming operations.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Jessica King commented on December 11 that providing proof of any one of these allegations would be enough to recall Sanborn’s license.
In a surprising turn of events, Sanborn along with his wife, Laurie, were not present for Monday’s hearing. They were reportedly attending the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Hafer informed the hearings officer, Michael King, that due to Sanborn’s health issues, his participation in the hearing was tough.
Officials from the Lottery, including Leila McDonough, reported that throughout their investigations, Sanborn had been tough to deal with and had not cooperated. McDonough remarked on his financial records, stating that they exhibited irregularities in his annual earnings.
The future of Sanborn’s gaming license is now in the control of Officer Michael King, who carries the responsibility of deciding whether to maintain the suspension prior to the license’s termination on December 31. At the same time, the Attorney General’s Office is considering pressing criminal charges against the Sanborns and has planned to hand over the case to the United States Attorney’s Office for a more detailed investigation.
