Ex-Portsmouth attorney guilty of stealing over $275G from brain-injured client

Former Portsmouth Attorney Justin P. Nadeau (Police mugshot)

CONCORD - A longtime Portsmouth attorney was found guilty on Wednesday of felony charges of Theft by Deception, Financial Exploitation of an Impaired Adult, Forgery, and Falsifying Physical Evidence in connection with his theft from and financial exploitation of a former client.

Justin P. Nadeau was also convicted for his efforts to fabricate evidence to conceal his conduct from the Attorney Discipline Office during their investigation.

The jury found 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 subsequently obtained a second loan from this same client on Dec. 12, 2018.

After the New Hampshire Attorney Discipline Office began investigating Nadeau, he undertook efforts to conceal his misconduct from the office, including fabricating documentation, producing false electronic file metadata, destroying and/or concealing his computer, and by forging his then wife's signature to a backdated promissory note, according to a release sent from the Attorney Generals Office on Wednesday.

Nadeau had practiced law in New Hampshire for over two decades, becoming licensed in the state in 2002. Based in Portsmouth, his practice continued until he was disbarred by the New Hampshire Supreme Court in April 2024.

Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, June 22 at 9 a.m.