Portsmouth attorney indicted in exploitation scam

Disbarred attorney Justin Nadeau

CONCORD - a Rockingham County Grand Jury has returned 15 indictments against a disbarred Portsmouth attorney.

Justin Nadeau, 51, stands formally charged with a class A felony count of Theft by Deception, two class A felony counts of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly, Disabled, or Impaired Adult, one class B felony count of Forgery, and eleven class B felony counts of Falsifying Physical Evidence.

The Theft by Deception and Financial Exploitation indictments allege that between Aug. 17 and Aug. 22, 2018, Nadeau obtained a $275,000 loan from his now former client, who had recently suffered a traumatic brain injury, under false pretenses; namely, by failing to disclose a lien, adverse claim, or other legal impediment to a condominium that he encumbered as collateral for the loan. Nadeau is alleged to have obtained a second loan from this same client on Dec. 12, 2018. Additionally, the Forgery indictment alleges that, in an effort to perpetrate a fraud on his former client, Nadeau signed his former wife's signature to a promissory note representing a pecuniary interest.

The Falsification of Physical Evidence indictments allege that Nadeau subsequently undertook efforts to conceal his misconduct from the New Hampshire Attorney Discipline Office ("ADO"), including by fabricating documentation, producing false electronic file metadata, and by destroying and/or concealing his computer.

Nadeau is scheduled to be arraigned on these charges at the Rockingham County Superior Court on Oct. 23 at 1:00 p.m.

The charges against Justin Nadeau are only allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.