Ex-employee sentenced for stealing $1 million from parish, medical office

As part of her plea, she agreed to pay restitution of over $1 million.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A former employee of a Town of Tonawanda parish and a medical office in the City of Tonawanda has been sentenced for stealing over $1 million combined between 2016 and 2023, the Erie County District Attorney's Office said Thursday.

Lisa Noble, 44, was sentenced to eight to 19 years in prison for stealing around $465,000 from St. Amelia's Parish in 2023 and more than $890,000 from the audiology practice while working there as an office manager from 2016 to 2021.

Noble, while at St. Amelia’s, stole cash, wrote checks made out to herself by forging the pastor’s signature, used the church’s credit card and wired church funds to herself, according to officials. She also went into the church’s records to try and cover up her stealing. She worked at the church as a business manager between April and September last year. She was fired after being placed on administrative leave after the theft was discovered.

Noble allegedly used the money to fund an extravagant lifestyle, including using around $20,000 to travel to Kansas City for a Taylor Swift concert, and taking a limo to get to the show.

She was taken into custody in March after she fled to the Raleigh, North Carolina area and began babysitting for a family under the alias Julie Wilson.

In June, she pleaded guilty to the following charges:

• Four counts of second-degree grand larceny
• Three counts of first-degree falsifying business records
• One count of third-degree grand larceny
• Three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument

As part of her plea, she agreed to pay restitution of $465,424.19 to St. Amelia's and $890,723.08 to the audiology practice.