Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald announces that Russell Berry, 53, of Hooksett, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty on January 25, 2018, in Merrimack County Superior Court to one count of Theft by Unauthorized Taking.

Mr. Berry, the owner of Classic Auto Works, sold a truck to the victim in August of 2013 for $2,000. When the victim went to pick up the truck, Mr. Berry told the victim that the truck was in storage and would not be available for a few weeks. However, Mr. Berry resold the same truck to another individual in October of 2013 for $2,500 while continuing to tell the victim the truck was in storage. Mr. Berry repeatedly failed to make restitution to the victim.

Prior to the plea and sentencing hearing, Mr. Berry paid the victim $2,000 in restitution. Pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, Mr. Berry was sentenced to serve 12 months in the Merrimack County House of Corrections with the entire sentence suspended for a period of 2 years conditioned on good behavior.

New Hampshire citizens with consumer-related complaints or concerns may call the Attorney General's Consumer Information Line at 1-888-468-4454 or file a complaint online at http://doj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints/index.htm.