Amherst Fraudster, Former Nashua Brewery Owner Sent To Prison In Loan Conspiracy Scam, Theft: Follow-Up

CONCORD, NH — The former owner of a brewery in Hooksett and Nashua has been sentenced to two two-and-a-half-to-five-years in prison for securities fraud, conspiracy, and theft.

David Herlicka, 51, of Amherst, will serve the sentences consecutively after being found guilty by a jury in October on theft by deception, securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit theft by deception charges. Along with the concurrent sentences, he also received a suspended sentence, three-and-a-half to seven years on the securities fraud charge.

That sentence was suspended for 10 years.

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After being released from prison, Herlicka will be ordered to pay restitution, too.

Herlicka and a partner conspired to secure a $962,000 loan to White Birch Brewery LLC, now defunct, between September 2014 and June 2015, telling investors the money would be used for equipment and supplies. He then used $130,000 for personal expenses not related to the brewery.

Dennis Norquist, 71, of Gilford, was found guilty on securities fraud and theft by deception charges and sentenced in July to two concurrent sentences of one-and-a-half to three years in prison as well as one year of administrative home confinement after a year. He was also sentenced to a three-and-a-half-to-seven-year term, suspended for 10 years, after he is released from prison.

According to Michael Garrity of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, Calice Ducey investigated the case with assistance from the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation. Senior Assistant Attorney General Kevin Scura and Assistant Attorney General J.R. Davis prosecuted the case along with Investigative Paralegal Rachelle Simon. Sunny Mulligan Shea assisted as victim-witness advocate. All are part of the New Hampshire Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau, which investigates and prosecutes deceptive and unfair business practices against New Hampshire consumers.

To file a complaint with the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau, call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-888-468-4454 or file a complaint online at the Consumer Complaints website, linked here.

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