East Rochester man gets 12 months for stealing $84G from 79-year-old relative

CONCORD - An East Rochester man was sentenced in federal court for defrauding a 79-year old family member of almost $84,000, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced on Thursday.

Craig Corriveau, 51, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay $83,629.69 in restitution to the victim. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Dec. 21.

"The defendant targeted an elderly family member, which is particularly insidious," said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. "The victim and their family placed their trust in Corriveau, and he abused that trust over the course of two years. I thank the Rochester Police Department and FBI for their excellent investigative work in bringing the defendant to justice. Our office will continue to work to protect the elderly population in our communities."

Between March 2019 and late 2021, the defendant stole approximately $84,000 from the victim and left them with almost $20,000 in credit card debt. He spent more than $31,000 of the stolen funds at a Rochester gun store to purchase ammunition, a knife throwing set, and 32 firearms. He only stopped stealing after he breached the credit limit on the victim's credit cards and emptied their bank accounts. The defendant lied to the Rochester Police Department by claiming the victim had authorized him to spend the stolen money.

Corriveau used his knowledge of the victim's personal identifying information to gain access to their bank accounts and credit cards. The defendant set up paperless bank and credit card statements, so the victim was unable to detect the fraud.

The Rochester Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps.