A New Hampshire man pleaded guilty to draining disability benefits for years from the bank account of an elderly disabled veteran living in a nursing home, US Attorney Erin Creegan announced. Donald Estes, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. The victim was an elderly disabled veteran who was living in a nursing home until the time he passed away. The victim was unable to manage his own money or make decisions. Each month, the Department of Veterans Affairs deposited disability benefits into the victim’s bank account. Initially, the victim’s mother served as the victim’s legal guardian until she passed away. After her passing, the victim’s nursing home reached out to Estes asking whether he would serve as the victim’s legal guardian. Estes never applied to serve as the victim’s legal guardian. Instead, Estes had the victim sign an agreement adding Estes to the victim’s bank account. Between August 2020 and December 2023, Estes proceeded to steal $225,200 from the bank account. Estes misspent the stolen funds on personal purchases or deposited the funds into other bank accounts he controlled.