Former Strafford nonprofit chief gets 2-4 years for theft of more than $350G

DOVER - The former president of a charitable foundation based in Strafford was sentenced Thursday in Strafford Superior Court to two to four years in state prison for stealing $350,000 from the family nonprofit.

In October Richard Proulx Jr., the former head of the Proulx Family Foundation, Inc., .,was charged with felony Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer, for stealing money from the foundation, which was established to provide financial assistance to individuals with disabilities and families of individuals with disabilities.

He pleaded guilty on Oct. 29. As part of his sentence six months was suspended, and he was ordered to pay restitution of $350,050 to the foundation.

Proulx, who had taken over as president of the foundation following his mother's death, stole the money over two and a half years, according to a Thursday release from the state Attorney Generals Office.

The Strafford nonprofit has been tax exempt since 2005.

In its most recent filing in 2016, the year Kathryn Proulx died at the age of 72, the nonprofit listed assets of almost $400,000 with Richard Proulx' compensation listed at approximately $6,800, records show.

The Charitable Trusts Unit of the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office has filed a Petition to Appoint a Corporate Agent to accept the restitution funds and, in a manner consistent with the Foundation's charitable purpose, the Corporate Agent will recommend to the probate court appropriate charitable organizations to which the funds should be distributed.