New HampshireDepartment of JusticeOffice of the Attorney General

News Release

For Immediate Release
July 21, 2022

Contact:
Michael S. Garrity, Director of Communications
michael.s.garrity@doj.nh.gov | (603) 931-9375

Geoffrey W. R. Ward, Senior Assistant Attorney General
Chief, Criminal Justice Bureau
Geoffrey.Ward@doj.nh.gov | (603) 271-3671

Zachary C. Wolf
Attorney, Public Integrity Unit
Zachary.C.Wolf@doj.nh.gov | (603) 271-3671

Dan A. Jimenez
Assistant Attorney General, Public Integrity Unit
Dan.A.Jimenez@doj.nh.gov | (603) 271-3671

Craig A. Come Indicted for Theft by Deception and Attempted Theft by Deception

Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella announces that on July 14, 2022, the Merrimack County Superior Court Grand Jury indicted former Department of Corrections Officer Craig Come, age 34, of Hooksett on one class A felony count of theft by deception and one class B felony count of attempted theft by deception.

The theft by deception charge alleges that between November 8, 2019, and April 19, 2020, Mr. Come, pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct, obtained or exercised control over property belonging to the State by falsely claiming on his timecard that he was entitled to payment for various overtime shifts at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men, when he knew in fact he did not work these shifts, and as a result received payment in excess of $1,500.00.

The attempted theft by deception charges alleges that between April 26, 2020, and May 4, 2020, Mr. Come, pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct, falsely claimed he was entitled to payment for five (5) overtime shifts at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men, when he knew in fact the entries he made on his timecard for them were false, which, under the circumstances as Come believed them to be, constituted a substantial step towards the commission of the crime of theft by deception.

In addition, a complaint was previously filed charging Mr. Come with official oppression, a class A misdemeanor. The complaint alleges that Mr. Come, a public servant as defined in RSA 640:2, II, and with the purpose of benefiting himself or another, knowingly committed an unauthorized act which purported to be an act of his office by making fraudulent entries on his timecard for overtime shifts that he did not actually perform in order to obtain additional payroll compensation from the State of New Hampshire.

The class A Felony is punishable by a 7½ to 15-year state prison sentence, and the class B felony is punishable by a 3½ to 7-year state prison sentence. Both felonies are also punishable by a $4,000 fine. The class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 12 months in the House of Corrections and a $2,000.00 fine.

Mr. Come will be arraigned at the Merrimack County Superior Court on the indictments at a later date.

The charges and allegations against Mr. Come are merely accusations, and Mr. Come is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case was investigated by Investigator John Lannon of the New Hampshire Attorney General Office's. The matter is being prosecuted by Attorney Zachary C. Wolf and Assistant Attorney General Dan Jimenez of the Attorney General Office's Public Integrity Unit. The Public Integrity Unit prosecutes allegations of criminal conduct committed by state officials, judicial officers, and law enforcement agents in the State of New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Department of Justice
1 Granite Place South | Concord, NH | 03301
Telephone: 603-271-3658