NH Man Accused of Defrauding Women He Dated, Soldiers, More

BOSTON, MA — A New Hampshire man was in Boston court today, facing charges for what prosecutors say totals more than $350,000 stolen from romantic partners and friends, many of them women he met online and dated, before duping them into sharing their credit card numbers.

In a joint press release issued Tuesday, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office and Boston Police Department detailed a few of the charges levied in a 45-count indictment against 25-year-old Michael Shields, Jr., formerly of the Seaport and Theater District.

Shields was arraigned Wednesday and held on a $7,500 bail, according to the DA's office.

Charges include:

• 21 counts of credit card fraud,
• 17 counts of use of a stolen or fraudulently obtained credit card,
• Two counts of larceny over $250 by single scheme,
• Two counts of attempting to commit larceny over $250,
• One count of larceny over $250, and
• Two counts of intimidation of a witness.

Police and prosecutors say an investigation found evidence that Shield deployed different "schemes" to defraud victims, including opening credit cards in the names of five different women and using the cards to make charges of more than $375,000 on purchases including meals, vacations, clothing, and jewelry.

"Shields typically met victims through social media sites and became involved in brief romantic relationships. A short time into each relationship, Shields allegedly asked the victim for her personal identification information, often stating that he wanted to make the victim an authorized user on his credit cards in order to take care of her financially. Instead of adding the victim to his own credit card accounts, however, prosecutors say Shields used the victim’s personal information to open credit cards and added himself as an authorized user," the press release states.

Shields additionally allegedly took advantage of a childhood friend and then-active duty soldier who was "preparing to transition into civilian life and had accepted Shields’ offer to help build his credit." According to the release, Shields allegedly opened four credit cards in the man's name, ringing up charges totaling more than $3,000.

Another scheme, according to prosecutors, included stealing $12,500 from another solider "who had expected Shields to invest the funds on his behalf."

The allegations are the result of a joint investigation by the DA's officer and police department's special investigations unit.

He returns to court Nov. 1, according to the DA's office.

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