Forty-year-old Kristina Parrish is facing a grand theft charge after Charlotte County investigators say she used her former boss's business account to pay her personal bills.
Parrish worked for prominent Punta Gorda businessman Bruce Laishley from 2021 to 2023. During that time, deputies allege she spent over $200,000 on unauthorized personal transactions.
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said in Parrish's arrest report that this case came to light in May of this year. Bruce Laishley, his daughter and his certified public accountant were preparing tax records when they noticed massive transactions.
Laishley told investigators he hired Parrish in 2021. He said she came with high qualifications and was recommended by another employee. Parrish was later fired in October 2023 for leave time mismanagement.
The arrest report said Laishley allowed Parrish access to his business account as an authorized signer for business-related purchases. She also had access to his personal American Express account in case he asked her to purchase anything on his behalf.
A portion of the report reads as follows:
"[The detective] asked Bruce if Kristina had any authorization for purchasing personal items or adding her personal accounts and Bruce firmly stated that she did not. He stated that she asked one time if she could charge plane tickets for an out-of-state relative that was sick which he relented and allowed, as well as when she asked for a donation to sponsor her children's sport teams. Bruce said other than those two occasions, which she had specifically asked for, he did not allow for any other personal purchases."
After Parrish was fired, Laishley's daughter (an employee of Laishley USA) found 'massive discrepancies.' Using Parrish's work email, Brandilyn Laishley found the 40-year-old had been paying personal bills with her father's business account.
There is also approximately $16K in charges from Parrish made to Laishley's personal AmEx.
"In addition to the state law issue, there is potentially several federal laws that have been violated to the extent that she was using the computer or the internet or email to perpetrate these frauds on financial institutions," said Chad Cummings, attorney and forensic CPA. "That could be considered wire fraud. That's 20 years in federal prison for each count, up to 30 years, up to $1 million fine for each count. So very significant penalties here."
Here is a list of places and totals Parrish is accused of spending money:
- Charlotte County Utilities: $4,131.90
- Capital One: $92,140.21
- Credit One: $35,986.26
- Affirm Inc.: $2,516.49
- Mott Community College: $2,198.61
- Bridgecrest DT Retail: $16,704
- Target Card: $2,257.39
- Nissan Motor Acceptance Company: $8,438.21
- Pentagon Federal Credit Union: $4,058
- FPB Card: $1,494
- Comenity Bank: $2,925.19
- River Club Association: $3,693.06
- Medina Dental: $1,330
- Bogle Law: $6,900
- Fine Line Auto Repair: $2,146.29
- IC System: $101.69
- JK Clerk of Court: $349
- Ambition Film Company: $850
- Kaci Layne $1957.50
- ReMax Harbor Realty: $930
- Terra Landscaping: $3,550
- S. New Hampshire University: $375
- US Dept. of State: $130
- Walters Screening and Repair: $3,370
- Xtreme Paver Solutions: $3,200
"I certainly think she's going to have a difficult time making a strong case to defend herself. Again, everything is date stamped. Everything is time-stamped. When we do transactions on our phones, everything is geo-located and geotagged," Cummings said. "So, yes, the evidence against her, at least from looking at the probable cause statement, is quite strong."
Parrish turned herself in to the Charlotte County Jail. She has already bonded out.
Her arrest report states, "The total amount of misappropriated funds by Kristina Stoltzfus-Parrish is more than $200,434.19, as there are additional amounts being located as well as her use of an American Express personal account of the victim."
CCSO said this is still an active investigation. Bruce Laishley could not be reached for comment.