Pelham man sentenced for fake justice scam

Jason Taylor, 38, of Pelham, received a prison sentence on Monday in Hillsborough Superior Court South in Nashua. The court ordered him to serve two and a half to five years behind bars. He also faces a suspended sentence of seven and a half to 15 years. This additional term hangs over his release. Judge John Formella, the state Attorney General, noted the severity of the financial abuse. Taylor pleaded guilty to thefts by deception and financial exploitation. He must repay $260,000 to his victims once he is released.

The scheme targeted Taylor’s mother, Claire Taylor, 65, and his aunt and uncle, Joan, 64, and Robert Auger, 74. Over roughly five years, Taylor extracted $68,000 from his mother. He took $191,000 from the Augers. Court records show the Augers nearly lost their home due to the payments. Taylor claimed he was part of an official investigation overseen by Chief Justice John Roberts. He instructed his relatives to provide cash for daily deals. These transactions supposedly involved agents in Lowell, Lawrence, and Methuen, Massachusetts.

Taylor forged emails and letters to support his story. The documents appeared to come from Roberts, Essex County District Attorney John Blodgett, and Harvard Legal Aid attorneys. One fake email from Roberts urged the Augers to send a final payment. It stated, We must have this last instance of Mr. and Mrs. Auger sending you the money so that I can add it to my offices report and at last stop this madness. Another letter from the fake Roberts admitted the victims were being manipulated. It read, I agree you poor people have been taken advantage of. Your kindness and understanding has been manipulated to pad the resume of an individual who is supposed to be helping you.

When the relatives tried to stop paying, Taylor threatened them with prosecution. He cited a phony Department of Justice order. The document warned that failure to comply would result in immediate dismissal and maximum penalties. One section stated that all victims would face full financial reparation and prosecution to the maximum extent of the law. Despite these threats, the relatives had already suffered greatly. Joan Auger wrote a letter to a fictitious official describing her state. She said she was financially, emotionally, and mentally put through HELL.

Taylor recorded Claire Taylor’s distress on video. A state sentencing memorandum referenced a clip from September 7, 2024. It showed Claire crying, shaking, and wailing that the case was bankrupting us. The state argued the scheme was not just a collection of lies. It was a saga carefully crafted over time. The memo noted that Taylor knew he was putting the victims through hell. He continued the fraud because his wants outweighed their needs.

Records indicate Taylor used much of the stolen cash to buy drugs. He operated the con for several years before being caught. The case highlights the risk of financial exploitation within families. Attorney General Formella said his office will hold those who exploit vulnerable adults accountable. Protecting older adults from fraud is a key duty. The court will monitor Taylor’s repayment of the $260,000 debt after his release.