Former Brewery Owner Found Guilty of Theft and Securities Fraud

Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella announces that today, David Herlicka, age 51, of Amherst, New Hampshire, was found guilty of Theft by Deception, Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception, and Securities Fraud in Hillsborough County Superior Court - Northern District.

"This verdict is the result of a thorough investigation and a strong prosecution team. Our team's efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to holding accountable those who engage in fraudulent and deceptive business practices," said Attorney General Formella. "I want to thank our attorneys, investigators, and our victim-witness advocate for their hard work in bringing this case to a successful conclusion, and I also want to express my appreciation to the jurors for their time and careful consideration of the evidence."

The jury found that between July 2014 and May 2015, Mr. Herlicka engaged in a fraudulent investment scheme to obtain nearly one million dollars from the Parktown Trust, a family trust based in New Hampshire, to finance operations of White Birch Brewing, LLC, a now-defunct brewery formerly owned by Mr. Herlicka.

Evidence presented at trial showed that Mr. Herlicka and his co-conspirator, Dennis Nordquist, agreed to induce the Parktown Trust to invest by misrepresenting the financial condition of the brewery and by making false promises about repayment.

Mr. Herlicka and Mr. Nordquist told the trust representatives that the investment was a short-term "bridge loan" and that repayment was secured by other pending financing, when in fact those representations were false. The funds from the Parktown Trust were not used solely for brewery operations, and significant portions of the money were diverted for personal use.

Mr. Nordquist was previously convicted and sentenced earlier this year for his role in the same scheme.

Sentencing for Mr. Herlicka is scheduled for Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 1:30 pm.

Investigator 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 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 https://www.doj.nh.gov/citizens/consumer-protection-antitrust-bureau/consumer-complaints.