SEQUIM — A trial date of July 27 has been set for a Sequim couple accused of embezzling $1.2 million from their former employer.
Bret W. Christianson and Eleana M. Christianson, both 47, have each been charged with two counts of aggravated first-degree theft.
Bret Christianson also has been charged with first-degree identity theft.
The couple pleaded not guilty May 1.
A status hearing is set for June 25.
John Troberg, Clallam County deputy prosecuting attorney, said the couple likely will be tried together July 27.
The alleged embezzlement is the largest in Clallam County since at least 2009, Troberg said.
The couple were employed by Donald and Pilar Tucker of Sequim.
The Tuckers own Park Manager LLC, a conglomeration of nine manufactured housing communities, several rental properties and other real estate holdings, including 400 rental units with a gross monthly rental income of about $150,000, according to court records of the Sequim police investigation.
The Tuckers notified police Jan. 7 that approximately $1,248,777 had been stolen from their business by five employees, including the Christiansons.
The other three employees were not charged because there was not enough evidence, Troberg said.
Court records
The police certification of probable cause gave the following account:
The Christiansons allegedly took rental income, made unauthorized online transfers between accounts for personal use and forged checks.
Eleana Christianson was employed by Park Manager from 2006-2013 as its office manager and bookkeeper, earning $3,000 per month.
Between Dec. 2, 2010, and June 27, 2013, she spent $163,390 at 7 Cedars Casino and won $11,537.
Bret Christianson was employed with the company off and on from 2007-2011.
After returning to work for Park Manager LLC in 2011 for two months, he made an L&I disability claim but Donald Tucker said he never signed the forms and that his signature on the documents was a forgery, according to the Sequim Police Department.
According to police reports, the Christiansons manipulated funds from 13 different accounts associated with Park Manager LLC, the Tuckers and Donald’s mother, Jeannine McQuillen.
Eleana Christianson had access to all of the Tuckers’ online banking portfolios, police reports state, and was a signer on some of the business and personal accounts, according to police reports.
She allegedly wrote as payable to cash 148 checks totaling $751,853.
“There were too many to individually document,” according to the police report, which also said there was $68,551 in unauthorized online transfers.
Bret Christianson allegedly was issued three different business credit cards during his employment and used them for unlawful transactions both while he was employed by the company and when he was not, police said.
According to police, while he was employed, he spent more than $19,000 in unlawful transactions.
When he wasn’t employed with the company, he allegedly spent $9,895 during a portion of 2008-09 and just over $8,000 during a portion of 2010-11 for items like propane and car repairs.
Car insurance
Police reports also say he used the Tuckers’ personal account to pay for his personal car insurance three times, totaling $1,420.
The first indication of theft was discovered in October 2013 after Donald Tucker completed a credit check while obtaining a loan.
The review showed an increased line of credit on the Tuckers’ residence, according to police.
Donald Tucker told police that when she was confronted, Eleana Christianson said she had made some unauthorized payroll advances, totaling about $20,000, as well as unauthorized credit-card charges and cash withdrawals from the Tuckers’ personal and company accounts.
Donald Tucker then hired Kris Osborn, owner and operator of KO Business Services LLC, to review his financial records.
Eleana Christianson allegedly admitted to Osborn that she stole from Park Manager and the Tuckers’ personal accounts.
She was fired from her job in late November 2013, the police report said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
