Concord Casino Owner Accused Of COVID-19 Fraud; 'Strongly Disagrees' With Officials

CONCORD, NH — The state Lottery and New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office are accusing a former Republican state Senator and Concord businessman of COVID-19 fraud. They have also deemed him “not suitable” to be associated with charitable gaming.

Former state Sen. Andy Sanborn, R-Bedford, the owner of The Draft Sports Bar and Grill in Downtown Concord as well as the Concord Casino, was accused by the state of using $844,000 from an Economic Injury Disaster Loan program to buy race cars and parts. Investigators obtained evidence indicating after receiving the taxpayer funds, “Sanborn used them to purchase at least three race cars, two Porsche 987 Cayman S racers for his personal use, and a Ferrari F430 challenge racer as a gift for his wife, Rep. Laurie Sanborn,” Michael Garrity, a public information officer for the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, said.

The “relief fraud” was discovered during “a periodic, statutorily mandated suitability review.”

The Sanborns have been running the Concord Casino since 2018 and recently had plans approved to expand with a luxury restaurant and hotel on the east side of the city on an unused parcel that is currently a homeless camp on Break O’Day Drive, near the intersection of Interstate 393, Route 106, and Loudon Road. Opponents of the project have filed a civil lawsuit in Merrimack County Superior Court, challenging the city's approval of the permit for the casino. According to the most recent planning board agenda, posted outside City Hall, Sanborn will petition the city to rescind approval.

A review also found purchases, including $45,500 in vehicle parts and services, “cash distributions disguised as rent payments to two of the licensee’s affiliates,” and $28,800 in engineering and geotechnical services for the new complex proposal.

In a statement Thursday, Sanborn said, like many businesses and organizations, they applied for federal relief to assist in meeting the operational challenges created by the pandemic.

“Throughout the process, we did our due diligence to ensure compliance with all application requirements and standards,” he said. “While I strongly disagree with the commission's statements, I welcome the examination ahead as I have full confidence our actions were transparent and in complete accordance of the law.”

State Rep. Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford, was recently named the chairwoman of a committee to study recent changes to charitable gaming laws in the state, as reported by NH Journal — which raised eyebrows with some Democrats.

The House Democratic Leader, state Rep. Matt Wilhelm, D-Manchester, said she should be removed from the role, calling the report “deeply concerning.” Wilhelm added, “Given the serious charges in the Attorney General’s report, removing Representative Sanborn from positions which directly involve charitable gaming, is the only way to preserve public trust in the oversight of taxpayer dollars. I have asked Speaker Packard to take the necessary actions to sever Representative Sanborn’s involvement with charitable gaming oversight.”

Attorney General John Formella said the case highlighted “the importance of law enforcement’s role in keeping illegal activity out of New Hampshire’s charitable gaming industry.” The determination now triggered an administrative action by the Lottery Commission, which could result in Concord Casino losing its facilities and game operator employer licenses. The AG’s Office also opened an investigation by its Criminal Justice Bureau — including a review by the Public Integrity Unit of the actions of all people and entities involved. Formella said a criminal referral was also sent to the United States Attorney’s Office-District of New Hampshire.

“Our obligation to protect the public demands that we take action against any person who is found to have used their regulated casino to enrich themselves with fraudulently obtained taxpayer funds,” Formella said.

On Wednesday, the AG’s Office and on Thursday, the state lottery sent Andy Sanborn, whose full first name is Anthony, by certified mail informing him of the review.

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