A Sequim couple, Bret William Christianson and Eleana Maria Christianson, allegedly embezzled more than $1.2 million from local businessmen.
As employees of Park Manager LLC, Bret and Eleana allegedly stole the money over an extended period of time. The company owned by Donald and Pilar Tucker includes the oversight of nine manufactured housing communities, several rental properties and real estate holdings.
Some of the Sequim Police Department’s investigation states that Eleana and/or Bret allegedly took rental income, made unauthorized online transfers between accounts for personal use, paid personal bills and forged checks.
Following the investigation which began in October 2013, Paul Dailidenas, detective with Sequim Police Department, found probable cause that Eleana, an employee with Parks Manager from 2006-2013 as its office manager and bookkeeper, committed theft first degree, theft second degree, identity theft first degree and forgery. However, Eleana was summoned to the county’s Superior Court by Clallam County Prosecuting office for two counts of theft in the first degree.
Bret was summoned for three counts, including theft in the first degree, theft in the second degree and identity theft in the second degree.
Bret was employed with the company off and on from 2007-2011. After returning to work for Park Manager LLC in 2011 for two months, Bret made an L&I disability claim but Donald Tucker said he never signed the forms, according the Sequim Police Department.
The couple made their first court appearance Friday, May 1, at Clallam County’s Superior Court before Judge Erik Rohrer. Both were scheduled for a status hearing June 25 and were given permission to do so together via phone.
Eleana was given a trial date of July 27 for four-five days and Bret’s trial date was set for July 27 for three days.
Investigation
The first indication of theft was discovered in October 2013 after Donald, co-owner of Park Manager LLC, completed a credit check for the purposes of getting a loan.
The credit check showed an increased line of credit on their residence, according to the Sequim Police Department.
Several electronic account transfers appeared from the line of credit account to the Tuckers’ personal account despite only Donald and Pilar Tucker being the designated signers on the account.
When first confronted about the unauthorized transfers from accounts, Eleana claimed she had made some “unauthorized payroll advances,” totaling about $20,000, according to the Sequim Police Department.
On further discussion, Eleana told to Donald she had made unauthorized credit card charges and cash withdrawals from both the personal accounts and company accounts. In response, Donald hired Kris Osborn, owner and operator of KO Business Services to provide financial and bookkeeping services to the company.
Throughout the next two weeks Osborn met with both company owners and Eleana. During a meeting, Eleana admitted to Osborn to have stolen from Park Manager, LLC as well as from both Donald and Pilar’s personal accounts.
Eleana was fired from her job in late November 2013.
According to police reports, Eleana and Bret allegedly used and/or transferred funds from 13 different accounts associated with Park Manager LLC, the Tuckers, and Donald’s mother Jeannine McQuillen.
They along with former employee Kenneth Steininger allegedly used unauthorized business credit cards, and Eleana allegedly gave payroll advancements to herself, Bret, friend Wendy Pearsall and Eleana’s daughter Lauryn Garrett, who made headlines for going missing in 2014 but was found safe.
Eleana 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.
Bret allegedly used three different business credit cards during his employment but police reports state when he wasn’t employed with the company he allegedly spent nearly $10,00 in a portion of 2008-2009, and just over $8,000 from a portion of 2010-2011 for items like propane and car repairs.
The report also states he used the Tuckers’ personal account to pay for his personal car insurance three times totaling $1,420.
Jeanine McQuillen, Donald’s elderly mother with Alzheimer’s disease, was listed as a victim with her personal credit card used January 2011-June 2011 for nine transactions for $1,444 for gas and personal items. However, Donald’s mother cannot drive due to her condition, police reports state.
Her JCPenney credit car was also used 94 unauthorized times from April 2011-January 2014 for purchases of $4,909.05 with interest and fees of $2,177.46. Donald, who has power of attorney for his mother as she is in round-the-clock care found she made two purchases in 2012 totaling $86.58.
In the report, Donald also claims that from another of his accounts, Eleana was transferring funds to pad others to bring the balances back up.
Until their trials, the Christiansons’ travel is limited to western Washington.
