NH COGE Co-Chairman, Former AutoFair CEO Says He Was Scammed Out Of $150K By Jay Lucas

By Damien Fisher, NH Journal

A co-chair of Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s Commission on Government Efficiency COGE says he was scammed out of $150,000 by longtime New Hampshire Republican insider Jay Lucas, who now faces federal felony charges alleging a multimillion-dollar Ponzi-style investment scheme.

Andy Crews filed a civil lawsuit against Lucas in Rockingham County Superior Court, seeking to recover money he says was fraudulently solicited from a family trust. Crews appears to be among a growing list of alleged victims following Lucas’ December indictment in federal court.

Lucas has pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud, securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, and money laundering in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Prosecutors allege that Lucas raised more than $50 million from investors through a sham investment operation and diverted much of the money for personal use.

According to Crews’ lawsuit, Lucas approached him in October with what he described as a limited investment opportunity in a health-and-wellness startup called Self Best.

“[Lucas] further described Self Best as ‘a personalized wellness marketplace and platform built to power vitality, longevity, and a healthier future,’” the complaint states.

Crews says he later met with Lucas and an individual who was presented as the company’s CEO to hear a pitch on the venture. At the time, Crews was unaware that Self Best was allegedly a fictitious entity controlled by Lucas himself, according to the lawsuit.

Court filings allege Lucas incorporated Self Best in Delaware but operated it out of his Portsmouth, N.H., home.

On Nov. 25, Crews wired $150,000 from a family trust to Lucas for investment in Self Best.

Shortly after the transfer was completed, Crews received a troubling message.

“Shortly after (Crews) sent the payment via wire transfer, the chief executive officer of ‘Self Best’ communicated to Andy Crews that his investment was in jeopardy,” the lawsuit states.

Over the following weeks, Crews attempted to recover his money, according to court filings. His efforts stalled after learning Lucas had been indicted by federal prosecutors on Dec. 18.

Lucas was released after posting a $1 million bond and remains free pending trial. A legal source told NHJournal that additional alleged victims are expected to file civil actions as the criminal case proceeds.

Lucas was once a prominent Republican figure in New Hampshire politics. He self-funded an unsuccessful 1998 gubernatorial campaign against then-Gov. Jeanne Shaheen later served as the state GOP treasurer and was a major party donor for years.

His son, Gates Lucas, represented Sullivan County in the New Hampshire House from 2018 to 2020.

Federal prosecutors say Lucas used investor money not for legitimate business ventures, but to fund personal expenses, including alimony payments, rent, political consulting fees, and the purchase of the Eagle Times in Claremont.

“Jay Lucas allegedly systematically misappropriated millions of dollars from his investors, diverting their money to personal expenses, repayments to other investors, and his wife’s business,” said Christopher Raia, the FBI’s assistant director in charge.

The Eagle Times ceased publication last summer, missed paychecks, and had unpaid bills for basic services, including phone and internet access. Lucas attempted to keep the paper operating, but shuttered it indefinitely weeks later.

Lucas’s attorneys have denied wrongdoing and say he intends to fight the charges.

Crews’ lawsuit is pending.

This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.