Ashland resident faces federal prison time for bank, wire fraud

Laconia police helped the Federal Bureau of Investigation in a case against an Ashland resident who allegedly committed bank and wire fraud against two former employers.

Kellianne MacKay, 48, of Ashland, was indicted this spring by a federal Grand Jury on two counts of bank fraud, as well as two counts of wire fraud, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan.

MacKay, who has also gone by the aliases Kelli Anne MacKay, Kelli Anne Lamonte and Kelli Anne Ludwick, was formerly read her charges on June 4, in U.S. District Court, in Concord.

MacKay allegedly improperly used two different employers' credit cards to make purchases for personal benefit, as well as wrote a check using funds from employer accounts without permission to buy a Chevrolet truck for herself.

An indictment, filed on May 20, states MacKay was employed by a Concord-based construction company referred to as “Company 1,” working as an accounts payable clerk from about May 2022, through about Aug. 25, 2023. During that time period, the company had a business checking account at Ledyard National Bank, as well as a company credit card account through American Express.

A Plymouth-based construction company, referred to as “Company 2,” employed MacKay as an office manager from about Oct. 23, 2023, to about Nov. 25, 2024. The company had a business checking account at Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank, and a company credit card account through U.S. Bank.

MacKay is alleged to have devised a scheme to defraud and obtain money and property from both companies through “false and fraudulent pretenses."

Two counts of wire fraud include when MacKay allegedly made an unauthorized purchase on Company 1’s American Express credit card, payable to “Rush Order T’s online,” amounting to $1,692.78, on Sept. 6, 2023.

MacKay also allegedly made an unauthorized purchase on May 15, 2024, on Company 2’s U.S. Bank credit card, payable to “Courts/USDC-NH-P,” amounting to $600.

She was also indicted on two counts of bank fraud. On Aug. 25, 2023, MacKay also allegedly was involved in a scheme where she knowingly caused an electronic funds transfer of $10,800 to be drawn on Company 1’s account at Ledyard National Bank, and deposited into her own Capital One bank account.

On June 28, 2024, MacKay allegedly signed a check for $36,526, to be drawn from Company 1’s account at Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank, which was used to buy a Chevrolet truck, “for her own personal benefit.”

Bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and wire fraud has a maximum penalty of 20 years. Both charges also have terms of supervised release of up to three years, along with fines of up to $250,000.

The FBI led the investigation, and was assisted by Concord, Laconia and Plymouth police, and the Belknap County Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau. A message for more information about the case was not returned by deadline.

MacKay also has a pending trial in Belknap County Superior Court for allegedly stealing nearly $100,000 from Irwin Automotive Group, in Laconia. MacKay was indicted in June 2023, for felony theft in excess of $1,501. She was also facing an associated civil suit.

The civil complaint alleged that MacKay, a former employee of Irwin Automotive Group, embezzled the funds. The company did not know about the stolen money until after she left the company, and Irwin Automotive went on to hire a forensic accountant for an additional $24,900, and incurred legal fees totaling $5,017.40

Court records show the civil case is closed, with a default judgment on March 14, which means the ruling was in favor of the plaintiff who brought the suit.

The criminal charges are pending, and there is a status conference scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, in Belknap County Superior Court, in Laconia.

MacKay has a trial date scheduled for her federal crimes on Tuesday, July 21, at the Warren B. Rudman United States Courthouse, in Concord.