Stratham contractor faces 36 charges in $2.4 million fraud

STRATEM. A longtime local contractor is facing 36 felony charges for allegedly extorting more than $2.4 million from customers for unfinished home improvement projects.

Gerard R. Thibault, 52, of Stratham, was indicted this month in Rockingham County and Strafford County on 23 counts of theft by unauthorized taking and 13 counts of theft by deception.

An indictment is not proof of guilt, meaning that the grand jury found enough evidence to warrant a trial.

Thibault is scheduled to be arraigned on the Strafford County charges on Nov. 5 and on the Rockingham County charges on Nov. 27.

Thibault is the owner Thibault Repair Services LLC located in Stratham. The company has existed for 25 years.

Thibault allegedly took more than $2.4 million in consumer deposits from 23 victims for home improvement projects he promised to complete between October 2020 and September 2023, according to a news release from the attorney general.

“He allegedly obtained or exercised unauthorized control over the funds of these consumers,” the press release of the Prosecutor General states. “He also alleged that he created or exacerbated a false impression by offering certain consumers additional, reduced prices, or free goods or services in exchange for early or additional funds.”

If convicted, Thibault faces up to 15 years in state prison and a $4,000 fine on each count.

Attempts to contact Thibault were not immediately successful.

The investigation was conducted by the Department of Consumer Rights Protection and Antimonopoly Department of the Ministry of Justice. Assistant Attorney General Warren Cormack and Senior Assistant Attorney General Brandon Garrod are prosecuting the cases.