ROCHESTER –– A local landscaper, Nickolas Legault, 25, was found guilty of four misdemeanor counts of unfair business practices and sentenced in accordance with the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Act.
Attorney General John M. Formella reported that Legault had accepted over $13,000 in deposits from four customers for landscaping and fencing work he never carried out.
Legault first accepted a deposit of $1,909.50 from a customer identified as S.P. to install sod. Despite multiple excuses and eventually ceasing communication with S.P., the landscaper neither provided any materials nor accomplished the promised work.
He then accepted a deposit of $3,000 from B.B. for a turf installation.
Legault began work, ripping up the existing yard and accepting a second payment of $2,382, which he later returned.
However, he refused to continue work, provide the promised materials, or refund the initial deposit.
A third customer, K.B., paid Legault a deposit of $6,000 for fence installation. Within days, Legault had spent the money on other expenses, leaving him without the funds to purchase the necessary materials.
Despite K.B.’s repeated requests, Legault failed to perform any work, provide any materials, or refund the money.
Finally, Legault was paid a deposit of $2,200 by D.L. to enlarge a patio and install gravel, tiki torches, trees, and stone. Despite D.L.’s requests, Legault neither completed the work nor returned the money.
The Strafford County Superior Court sentenced Legault to four concurrent 60-day terms in the House of Corrections, with the recommendation for potential administrative home confinement.
Each sentence also includes an additional suspended 10-month period over four years, during which Legault is required to pay over $13,000 in restitution.
He has also been ordered to refrain from owning, operating, or managing a small business, accepting deposits for home contracting or landscaping work, contacting the victims, and must maintain good behavior.
The cases were investigated by Fred Lulka and prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Kevin Scura, both of the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau.
The bureau encourages any New Hampshire consumers who may have been a victim of fraud to file a complaint by calling their hotline at 1-888-468-4454.
