New Hampshire casino owner suspected of misusing $844,000 in COVID-19 funds
Opposing attorneys traded charges over alleged misconduct by a casino owner during a hearing in New Hampshire on Monday. The question is whether he should keep his gambling license.
Officials claim Concord casino owner and former state Sen. Andy Sanborn, the subject of the hearing, misused federal funds and does not deserve to remain the owner of a nonprofit casino.
"This case is about public trust in nonprofit gambling. It's about accountability," New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Jessica King was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
Essentially, the evidence will show that Mr. Sanborn commingled funds, mislabeled personal expenses as business expenses, and ran a finance-based business without regard to the important regulations established for this high-risk industry Safety precautions. "
New Hampshire Lottery Commission auditor Leila McDonald testified against Sanborn, saying his financial records were "sloppy at best," the Associated Press reported.
Officials say Sanborn improperly received $844,000 in coronavirus relief loans. Casinos should not be eligible for such loans, but Sanborn did not mention that was the scope of his business.
Sanborn is accused of using $181,000 of the money to buy two Porsche race cars and $80,000 to buy a Ferrari for his wife, Rep.Laurie SanbornsR, officials said. He also spent more than $183,000 on rent, officials said.
Trust the Expert
Sanborn's attorney, Mark Knights, who specializes in government investigations, said the New Hampshire Lottery Commission did not fully understand how the relief money was being used and dismissed the government's allegations.
"This is an incomplete story with huge gaps in the evidence that is the result of an incomplete and frankly sloppy investigation," Knights said at the hearing, according to the Associated Press.
The evidence will show that Mr. Sanborn and (his not-for-profit gaming company) Win Win Win ultimately relied on the advice of experts (small business management experts) whom they had reason to trust. "It's a loan," Knights said, according to the New Hampshire Gazette. "It's not cheating. There's no intent to deceive. It's not a scam at all."
Sanborn's adviser was identified at the hearing as Michael Evans of SpringWest Capital Corp. Sure. He helped Sanborn apply for a COVID-19 loan.
McDonough, on the other hand, testified that working with Sanborn was "the most difficult and challenging." He doesn't seem to believe that rules and laws apply to him. "
Sanborn is hard
"There have been some problematic gaming operator employers, but he was the most difficult and challenging to work with," McDonald told the Bulletin.
He went to the governor. He went to see my boss. He went to my boss’s boss. He went to my boss’s boss. He wanted things his way and I just wanted to obey. I don't want to argue with him. "
In an interview with the Knights, McDonough acknowledged that Sanborn was cooperative in 2021 and "he seemed willing to correct any issues they found during the review process," according to the Associated Press.
Sanborn and his wife did not attend Monday's hearing. They were at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a hospital in Boston, according to his attorney. He was reportedly unable to participate in some negotiations due to illness.
The hearing will be conducted by New Hampshire Department of Safety Hearing Officer Michael King.
Sanborn's gaming license at the Concord casino is set to expire on Dec. 31. He also attempted to open a second casino in Concord.
Additionally, state and federal investigations into Sanborn remain ongoing.
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Source: www.casino.org
