WITH ARREST REPORT: Woman charged with stealing more than $200K from employer

PUNTA GORDA — A North Port woman is facing grand theft charges, accused of stealing more than $200,000 from her employer, a prominent Charlotte County businessman.

Kristina Nicole Parrish, 40, of the 8900 block of Woodland Boulevard in North Port, is accused of writing thousands of dollars worth of checks over several months, using the business account of Bruce Laishley, according to reports.

Parrish, who is also named Kristine Stoltzfus-Parrish in court documents, worked for Laishley's real estate company Laishley USA LLC as his assistant from 2021-23, according to a report filed by Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Detective Chris Farley.

Laishley contacted the CCSO in May, and Farley began his investigation soon after.

He reported that Parrish was terminated in October 2023 for "leave time management."

But while she was working for Laishley, she used the company checking account to pay for $200,444.39 in personal expenses, the report states.

In his report, Farley states the payments were discovered by Bruce Laishley's daughter, Brandilyn Laishley, who came to work for him. She examined the books and accessed company email accounts to track down payments Parrish made that the company says were not authorized.

According to the arrest report, payments include credit card companies like Capitol One ($92,140.21) and Credit One ($35,986.26).

The also include opening a Charlotte County Utilities account for a home on River Bank Way, Punta Gorda and paying more than $4,000.

Payments were made to Medina Dental of Punta Gorda ($1,330), the River Club Homeowners Association ($3,693.06), the Bogle Law Firm ($6,900) and Fine Line Auto Repair ($2,146.29).

Other checks went to auto loan management companies Bridgecrest DT Retail ($16,704) and Nissan Motor Acceptance Company Information ($8,438.21).

The account was used to pay Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan ($2,198.61) and South New Hampshire University ($375), and other purchases including landscaping and landscape pavers, screen repairs, a real estate agent, a wedding photographer, a videographer, a payment to the Clerk's Office in Alachula County and to the U.S. State Department for a passport.

When Farley called Parish to set up an interview, she "abruptly hung up" on the investigator, according to his report. Later, attorney Stephen Leskovich contacted the detective and accompanied Parrish to the Sheriff's Office headquarters in Punta Gorda.

Farley arrested Parrish, and she was booked into the Charlotte County Jail on Thursday. She was later released on $30,000 bond.

The investigation is still open, according to CCSO records.

"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," Farley stated in his report.