Ex-Employee Sentenced for Stealing More Than $465K from St. Amelia's Parish and More Than $890k from Audiology Office

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that44-year-old Lisa A. Noble, also known as Lisa Prynn, formerly of Williamsville was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller to 8 to 19 years in prison. She was sentenced today as a second felony offender.

Between April 2023 and September 2023, the defendant, while working as a business manager for St. Amelia's Parish in the Town of Tonawanda, stole approximately $465,000 from the church. The defendant made numerous unauthorized purchases with the church's debit card, issued fraudulent checks to herself and stole cash deposits. The defendant used the stolen money to purchase concert tickets, travel, lodging and other personal expenses.

On Friday, September 15, 2023, Noble was placed on administrative leave shortly after the theft was uncovered. She was terminated from her position the following week after further investigation by St. Amelia Parish and the Diocese of Buffalo Internal Audit Department.

Noble also pleaded guilty for a separate crime. Over the course of approximately five years, the defendant stole more than $500,000 while working as an office manager for an audiology practice in the City of Tonawanda. The defendant stole the money from the medical practice between 2016 and 2021.

A fugitive warrant was issued after the matter was presented to a Grand Jury. In early March 2024, Noble was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Office in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, she was returned to Western New York to face prosecution after waiving extradition proceedings. The following morning, she appeared in Erie County Court where the indictment was unsealed. She has been held without bail since her arraignment.

In June 2024, Noblepleaded guilty to all counts in the indictment, which included both crimes:

• Four counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (Class "C" felonies)
• Three counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree (Class "D" felonies)
• One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class "D" felony)
• Three counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree (Class "E" felonies)

As a condition of the plea, Noble signed Confessions of Judgment to pay in restitution to both victims in the amounts of $465,424.19 to St. Amelia's Parish and $890,723.08 to the audiology practice. To date, she has not paid back any money to the victims.

"This defendant brazenly stole nearly a million dollars from two former employers to fund her extravagant lifestyle then fled the area in an attempt to evade prosecution. Today, I am pleased to announce that she will serve a significant period of incarceration for these crimes," said ActingErie County DA Mike Keane.

"As a community, St. Amelia Catholic Church and School are thankful to the Erie County District Attorney's Office for all of their efforts as it pertains to this case. As a community we are relieved to see justice served as we continue to recover from this horrible violation of trust," said Rev. Michael P. LaMarca.

Acting DA Keane commends the Diocese of Buffalo, City of Tonawanda Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force for their work in these investigations.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Gary M. Ertel and Assistant District Attorney Robin J. Deubler of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions (SIP) Bureau.