New Hampshire’s groundbreaking first Black sheriff has been sentenced to prison after misappropriating nearly $19,000 in taxpayer funds for personal trips with romantic partners. Mark Brave, who made history in 2020 as both the state’s first Black and youngest sheriff at age 35, received a 3.5-year prison sentence on Monday for his misconduct in office.
The Democratic sheriff’s downfall began when auditors discovered questionable JetBlue airline tickets to Florida purchased on a county credit card. Investigation revealed Brave had used public funds for multiple unauthorized trips with various women, including county employee Freezenia Veras, whom he had appointed to an $80,000 newly-created position.
During the investigation, Brave repeatedly misled authorities about his activities. He falsified business justifications for his travels, claiming fictional meetings with a nonexistent “New England Sheriff’s Association” and fabricating training sessions to cover his personal excursions. Hotel security footage later exposed these deceptions by showing him accompanied by female companions on trips he had claimed were solo business travel.
The case took several turns as Brave continued to violate court conditions while under investigation. He leased a $52,000 apartment in Boston despite being required to remain in New Hampshire, traveled to Florida and Puerto Rico without authorization, and failed to disclose both the $1.5 million sale of his home and his purchase of a vintage Porsche.
In one particularly revealing incident, Brave struggled to identify a woman from a photo presented by prosecutors showing them together on a dinner cruise charged to his county credit card, stating “I forget which one this is. I’ve been dating a lot of people.” He also defrauded Kenisha Epps-Schmidt, an online acquaintance, of $2,300 in a failed car purchase scheme after meeting her during a taxpayer-funded trip to Maryland.
Judge Dan St. Hilaire noted the unprecedented nature of Brave’s continued misconduct throughout the legal proceedings. Despite prosecutors seeking a 7-14 year sentence, the judge settled on 3.5 years, with the possibility of earlier release through participation in prison programs. Brave must also repay $18,969 to Strafford County.
During his initial election in 2020, Brave had celebrated his historic appointment, stating, “It’s something I feel should have happened a long time ago, but I’m honored that I will be the person to pave the way.” When investigations into his misconduct began, he accused fellow Democrats of racism and claimed his term was “rife with inequities.”
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella condemned Brave’s actions, stating, “His repeated lies, misuse of taxpayer funds, and abuse of office were not just criminal — they were a profound betrayal of the public trust and the oath he took to serve with integrity.”
As part of his plea agreement, Brave is prohibited from seeking law enforcement employment during his post-release probation period. He was taken into custody immediately following sentencing, leaving the courtroom in handcuffs.
The case has drawn particular attention for Brave’s numerous deceptions, including lying about staying with his ex-wife in Dover when he actually resided in Boston, and attempting to conceal luxury purchases while claiming financial hardship. His conviction marks a dramatic fall from grace for what had been celebrated as a historic appointment in New Hampshire law enforcement.