Better Together: Presented by FAST of NH, in partnership with AARP

Older adults lose billons in assets every year to scams, fraud and exploitation. Law Enforcement, Adult Protection, Financial Institutions, Long Term Care Providers and Justice Professionals work tirelessly to combat this epidemic. Staying connected helps us be "Better Together".

FAST of New Hampshire is pleased to present the New England FAST Conference, sponsored by AARP NH.

Please join us for an exciting day of learning and networking.

AM Session 1: A Case Study of Financial Exploitation and Family Dynamics
The investigation and prosecution of financial exploitation committed against older adult victims is often complex. The complexity increases when exploitation is perpetrated by a family member. Often, the perpetrator isolates the victim from other family members. This isolation leads to anger, resentment, and a fractured family dynamic, presenting unique challenges for investigators, prosecutors, and victim-witness advocates. Through a case study, the presenters will identify the problems that arise in these unique cases. The presenters will provide guidance to investigators and prosecutors on how to handle these cases, including how to prevent the family dynamic from derailing the investigation and prosecution. The presenters will also provide tips for victim-witness advocates on how to navigate the complex emotions and personalities involved.

Presented by: Senior Assistant Attorney General Bryan J. Townsend, II JD is a lifelong resident of New Hampshire. He earned his BA from the University of New Hampshire in Durham and his JD from University of New Hampshire School of Law in Concord. He is the Chief Prosecutor with the Elder Abuse and Exploitation Unit at the Attorney General’s Office. In this role he works closely with law enforcement and the Bureau of Adult and Aging Services (BAAS) to investigate and prosecute cases of elder abuse and exploitation. He presents on Elder Abuse and Exploitation throughout the State and teaches at the Police Standards and Training. Prior to his current role, Attorney Townsend was a prosecutor for the Medicaid Fraud Unit at the Attorney General’s Office. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office he was a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Carol Ann Conboy and spent three years in private practice.

Sunny Mulligan, JD is the Victim Witness Advocate for the Elder Abuse and Exploitation Unit at the Attorney General’s Office. She earned her BA from Notre Dame College in Manchester, NH and her JD from New Hampshire School of Law, formerly Franklin Pierce Law Center. Her prior experience includes fourteen years in a small law firm predominantly representing children and as a Guardian ad Litem for victims of sexual assault. She taught at the UNH School of Law for 9 years and was a Victim Witness Advocate for Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office for two years prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office in 2016. She, with the Elder Abuse and Exploitation Unit, present statewide on Elder Abuse and Exploitation and teaches at Police Standards and Training.

AM Session 2: Cognitive Decline and Financial Decision-Making
This workshop will review how dementia impacts safety, how to recognize signs of money problems, and will review tips for helping to manage financial concerns. Strategies for guarding against financial abuse and fraud will be included, as well as helpful resources.

Presented by: Melissa Grenier, LCSW has two Social Work degrees and has worked in a variety of settings serving people living with memory loss including elder guardianship, long-term care, inpatient geriatric psychiatric care, home and others. She has worked for the Alzheimer's Association, MA/NH Chapter, for thirteen years, and is currently the Regional Manager for the State of New Hampshire. Her role includes overseeing the operations of the Bedford, NH, regional office, and providing the Alzheimer's Association's wide range of programs, services and trainings across NH.

AM Session 3: Accounting for Accountability
Work through an actual financial abuse case with a team, hands-on exercise using quick financial analysis tools to identify potential areas of concern. Learn to decipher the financial red flags, and dive deep into a reported incident of financial exploitation. The workshop will conclude with an overview of the analysis prepared for the successfully prosecuted case you have just reviewed.

Presented by: Carol Guyer is a Financial Research Analyst with the NH Department of Justice where she provides financial analysis for civil and criminal litigation of financial cases including Elder Financial Abuse cases. Carol joined the NH DOJ with 31 years of auditing experience at the NH Department of Revenue. While at the NH Department of Revenue, she served as a Financial Manager, Tax Auditor, Internal Auditor and Risk Assessment Officer. She was the National Chair of the Federation of Tax Administrators Tobacco Section. Her innovation, tenacity, and cooperation was awarded with the Charles Mills Award of Excellence. Carol earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Gradate Certificate in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigations from Southern NH University.

AM Session 4: Hot Potato Cases
Officer Simeoni has been working cases involving the fraud, exploitation and abuse of our older population for over 20 years now. In this session, she will share how some cases are often considered the "hot potato" case and frequently just passed along from law enforcement. She provides insight on the importance of collaboration through multi-disciplinary case work and encourages participants to start a team or join one for the greatest outcomes. Attendees will be introduced to real case examples which were successful and those which were learning opportunities. Officer Simeoni will share tools she has created and used to for better case outcome, focusing on interviewing and case guidance.

Presented by: Officer Candice Simeoni started law enforcement in 2004, graduated Maine Criminal Justice Academy in 2005 and has Degrees in Business Administration and Organizational Leadership Studies. She is the President and founder of the York County Elder Abuse Task Force, established in 2005. Officer Simeoni instructs at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy on Elder Justice, has been recognized nationally for her work, sits on numerous boards and is known for her leadership with her Task Force. Officer Simeoni contributes nationally on elder justice topics and has testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. Officer Simeoni is a case mentor for first responders and has passion advocating for older adults and those with disabilities.

PM Session 1: Simple as Soup: Transforming NH’s Response to Older Adult Mistreatment
Increase your understanding of the dynamics of older adult mistreatment and learn how combining agency efforts can improve our response. Using case examples in this interactive workshop, the presenter will walk you through how a case can go very wrong and alternatively how a case can go very right. This workshop will present you with tools to enhance your current practices and integrate MDT principles into your agency’s approach to older adult financial maltreatment.

Presented by: Christa Clapp joined the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit with the NH Attorney General’s office in October 2022. In her current role of Elder Abuse Program Specialist, Ms. Clapp coordinates investigative elder abuse multi-disciplinary teams, as well as the Financial Abuse Specialty Team (FAST) of New Hampshire. She manages the content of the FAST informational website and social media stayconnectednh.org, provides educational opportunities to the members of the FAST, and partners with community providers to provide scam and fraud prevention education to older NH citizens. She has encouraged the use of multi-disciplinary teams for older adult maltreatment to statewide and national audiences. Ms. Clapp holds degrees in Public Administration and Criminal Justice. She has 29 years of human services field experience in mental health, child protection and adult protective services.

PM Session 2: It’s Not Just a Civil Matter
Not unlike how domestic violence was once considered a “civil” or “family” matter, the same misperceptions take place today with financial exploitation. We’ll explore how certain acts—typically considered solely “civil” or “family” matters—constitute crimes under New Hampshire law. The panelists will provide a review of our state’s criminal financial exploitation law, RSA 631:9, tips on assessing if criminal activity has occurred, and an overview of powers of attorney, how they can be abused, and how such abuse can constitute a crime. There will also be an overview of Vermont’s new power of attorney statute and issues surrounding its implementation.

Presented by: Roger ‘Rusty’ Chadwick started his legal career as a law student hired to help a co-defendant in the Pamela Smart murder case. He worked as a public defender then spent over a decade at the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office. He started then ran a CyberCrime Task Force that used Internet stings to arrest more than fifty individuals and lead a daycare sexual abuse investigation with dozens of potential victims. He received several awards, including from the Hillsborough CAC and "CyberCrime Prosecutor of the Year" from the AG. After a stint in private practice defending NH clients, he is now a Lead Attorney in the Rockingham County Attorney’s Office. He is also a part-time preacher. If you want his attention, talk to him about Ireland.

Leah Burdick has been a staff attorney within the Elder Law Project at Vermont Legal Aid for the past six years. She obtained her law degree from Vermont Law and Graduate School in South Royalton, VT. She assists Vermont seniors with a wide variety of legal issues such as housing, Medicaid, social security benefits, and individual rights.

Detective Rochelle Jones was hired by the Portsmouth Police Department in 2002. She is a U.S. Army Veteran; and former corrections officer. She is assigned as the Community Outreach Coordinator, Mason the Comfort Dog’s Handler, and the Senior Services Liaison. She is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with the community and providing safety & educational trainings. Det. Jones is a Crisis Hostage Negotiator, CISM and Peer Support team member, serves on the NH FAST board, and is on the NH NAMI Crisis Intervention Team Faculty. She is a past recipient of the Women Leaders in Alzheimer’s Association Policy Award. Det. Jones is hardworking, friendly, and compassionate. She is dedicated to being Mason’s Mom, helping other first responders, and caring for the community where she was raised, lives, and continues to serve.

Mason the Comfort Dog is a 2 ½ year old, black American Labrador Retriever, and the Portsmouth police department’s 1st Comfort Dog! Mason comes from a non-profit organization called Hero Pups who trains and provides comfort, emotional support, service, and therapy dogs to first responders and Veterans. His handler/Mom is Det. Rochelle Jones. Mason helps boost morale for police officers, city personnel, and their families and is available for victim interviews to reduce stress. In between, he also makes appearances at community events, schools, assisted living facilities, and wherever else he is needed that is within his responsibilities. He holds several American Kennel Club titles and is a certified Therapy Dog. When Mason is not working, he enjoys watching Judge Judy with his mom, playing ball, swimming, and traveling.

PM Session 3: Multi-State Adult Protective Services Caregiving Panel
Adult Protective Services (APS) are government programs in each state that investigate reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults, particularly older adults and those with disabilities. While APS programs vary by jurisdiction, their contact with caregivers typically follows some core principles and practices: assessment and investigation, support and resources, and intervention planning. APS seeks to build safer environments while respecting individual rights and encouraging collaborative care solutions, which implicates caregivers in a variety of contexts. In this panel discussion, APS representatives from ME, VT and NH will review their jurisdiction’s focus and interactions with caregivers.

Presented by: Ms. E. Maria Thyng grew up in California and began her work in the social service field by working with disabled and vulnerable individuals in group home settings, which she was drawn to as she raised a profoundly disabled sibling. In 1996, a “six-week vacation” to New Hampshire turned into a lifelong career with the State, when she started working at the NH Hospital Psychiatric Nursing Home; which lasted for 16 years. She explored different agencies throughout her State of New Hampshire career including the Family Assistance division and the Child Support department, before landing in the field of Adult Protection in 2006 as an Adult Protective Social Worker. Maria currently works as a Program Specialist: Case Management Specialist, for the NH Bureau of Adult and Aging Services – Adult Protective Services. She uses a strength-based person-centered collaborative approach, when completing investigations and managing ongoing cases of vulnerable adults who have been victims of maltreatment, for almost two decades.

Kelly Greaves is the Assistant Director for Adult Protective Services in Vermont. She has spent her entire life in Vermont, attending Lydon State College while working as an LNA and EMT. After graduating, she started her career with The Department for Children and Families, Economic Services Division determining eligibility for Long Term Care Medicaid and working on the housing needs for low-income Vermonters. In 2019 Kelly became an investigator with Adult Protective Services and two years later the Assistant Director. Kelly was a part of the team that worked on implementing assessments providing the ability for a victim centered approach.

Joanne Cookson: At 18, Joanne Cookson joined the United States Army. Subsequently, she pursued higher education, obtaining a degree in Elementary Education, transitioning into social work to have a more profound impact on the lives of children. After a decade, she moved to Adult Protective Services, developing an interest in Financial Exploitation affecting the elderly. As a casework investigator, Joanne managed two cases that resulted in full convictions, including one individual extradited by Maine Law Enforcement to stand trial. Joanne has dedicated 27 years to the State of Maine, spending 14 years as an Adult Protective caseworker and 4 years in a supervisory role overseeing FAST.

PM Session 4: Preventing Financial Abuse in Digital Spaces, with a focus on cryptocurrency

This session covers the basics of cryptocurrency, how to use cash apps like Cash App and PayPal safely, and how to recognize and prevent financial abuse in digital spaces. Learn how to help your consumers/clients manage money securely and protect themselves from scams and exploitation in the digital age.

Presented by: Sean Donlon is the Senior Resident Agent managing the Burlington, VT office of the United States Secret Service. A 23-year veteran of the Service, Sean provides decades of experience in financial crimes investigations and specialized training in cyber-related fraud impacting Vermonters daily.

Peter Laroche is the Network Intrusion Forensic Analyst with the United States Secret Service in the Manchester NH Resident Office. Prior to joining the USSS, he worked with the Nashua, NH Police Department as a Detective and Digital Forensics Examiner. His experience includes forensic examination for the NH Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, work as a Federally Deputized Task Force officer with the United States Secret Service,and member of the New England Cyber Fraud Task Force. Pete has a special interest and extensive training in cybercrime incident response and financial/cryptocurrency enabled fraud investigations.