LANCASTER, New Hampshire (May 16, 2024) — Tina Fournier, a former employee of two northern New Hampshire car dealerships, has been sentenced to up to 14 years in state prison after pleading guilty to embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the businesses she once called family. The embezzlement occurred over a four-year period and was accompanied by fraudulent use of company credit cards.
In a packed courtroom, Judge Peter H. Bornstein sentenced Fournier, 47, to two consecutive 3½ to 7-year prison terms after the prosecutor’s recommended sentence. Fournier’s crimes involved the theft of about $350,000 from Brooks Chevrolet and its successor, Noyes Chevrolet, as well as unauthorized use of company credit cards.
Fournier’s embezzlement began between January 2017 and December 2021, where she stole funds from the dealerships’ accounts and used company credit cards without permission. The dealership owners, Mark Bigney and Don Noyes, were reportedly shocked to discover the scale of the theft after a forensic accountant reviewed the books.
Judge Bornstein addressed the severity of the crime, saying, “The defendant pleaded guilty to stealing more money than many of the people I see in my courtroom make in a lifetime.” He also mentioned Fournier’s lack of a prior criminal record but stressed the gravity of her actions, stating, “She sure shot the moon out the first time with this one.”
Fournier, who had worked for the dealerships for years, was treated like family by the owners, who even helped her family during difficult times. Her daughter, who has a genetic condition, received medical support from the dealership, and Fournier was given additional time off for medical treatments. Despite this, Fournier took advantage of the trust placed in her, and her theft nearly destroyed the dealership.
In court, Fournier expressed remorse for her actions, stating, “To say that I’m not remorseful would be an understatement.” She also apologized to the victims, including dealership owners Mark Bigney, Don Noyes, and their families, who described feeling personally betrayed by her actions.
Fournier’s defense attorney, Mark Sisti, argued for a lesser sentence, citing Fournier’s devotion to her daughter’s medical needs and her plans to become a phlebotomist. Sisti requested a 12-month sentence in the House of Correction instead of state prison. However, Judge Bornstein ultimately rejected this request, emphasizing the purposeful nature of her crime.
The court also addressed restitution, with Fournier ordered to pay back the stolen funds to the victims. Efforts are underway to sell a home owned by her parents, with the proceeds to go towards the victims’ restitution.
While the court proceedings ended with Fournier being taken into custody, the victims and their families remain committed to seeing justice served. Fournier’s daughter, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, spoke in court about the strain the case had placed on their lives, saying her mother was her sole support.
Fournier will serve her sentence at the New Hampshire State Prison, and her case serves as a reminder of the deep consequences of betrayal and financial fraud in businesses that place trust in their employees.