Pelham man sentenced for scamming family using fake Supreme Court orders

Jason Taylor, a 38-year-old resident of Pelham, received a prison sentence on Monday for defrauding his mother and aunt of $260,000. The fraud stretched across roughly five years and relied on a false identity as an official working directly with Chief Justice John Roberts.

Taylor pleaded guilty to thefts by deception and financial exploitation at a hearing in Hillsborough Superior Court South in Nashua. He was sentenced to two and a half to five years in prison. The court also suspended an additional seven and a half to 15 year sentence, which will remain in effect after his release. He must repay the full $260,000 once he is out of prison.

The scheme targeted Claire Taylor, 65, and her siblings Joan Auger, 64, and Robert Auger, 74. Taylor told his family he was part of an investigation into corruption. He required cash to execute daily deals in Massachusetts cities such as Lowell, Lawrence, and Methuen. He claimed the money would be reimbursed after the investigation concluded.

When relatives hesitated to pay, Taylor sent forged emails and letters. These documents appeared to come from Roberts, Essex County District Attorney John Blodgett, and Harvard Legal Aid attorneys. One fake email from Roberts stated that the Augers needed to send one final payment to end the madness. Another phony Department of Justice order threatened prosecution and jail time if the family did not comply.

Court records indicate Taylor knew his family was struggling. The Augers nearly lost their home during the scheme. Joan Auger wrote a letter to a fictitious official describing how she was financially and emotionally put through hell. Taylor also recorded his mother crying and shaking in a video from September 2024. In that clip, Claire Taylor said the case was bankrupting them.

Attorney General John Formella noted that the case shows how often fraud exploits the trust of family members. He said his office will continue to hold those who abuse vulnerable adults accountable. It is not entirely clear where the money went, though records show Taylor used many of the daily deals to buy drugs.

The sentencing memo described the fraud as a saga carefully crafted to keep the victims committed. The memo stated that Taylor knew he was causing pain but continued because his wants were more important than their needs.