A 7-year fraud scheme cost a local business $7 million in Florida, and three people were arrested.
Following a lengthy and complex investigation, detectives with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office made the three simultaneous arrests last month in connection with the alleged financial fraud scheme involving a local business.
The investigation revealed that over a seven-year period, 43-year-old Laura Beth Grasso, of Fort Pierce, who served as a bookkeeper and comptroller for the business, allegedly used her position of trust and unsupervised administrative access to facilitate a scheme resulting in the loss of nearly $7 million.
Detectives allege that Grasso bypassed established accounts payable procedures to initiate millions of dollars in unauthorized manual wire transfers from the business’s bank accounts to unintended third parties.
Investigators further allege that Grasso, with the assistance of 38-year-old Sheri Lynn Harrs, of Fort Pierce, and 55-year-old Tina Marie Mejia, of Port St. Lucie, bypassed payroll controls to issue duplicate payments benefiting themselves and one another.
As the investigation continued, detectives uncovered evidence indicating that Grasso provided Mejia and Harrs with additional payments and covered personal expenses as a means of ensuring their silence regarding the alleged fraudulent activity, according to local law enforcement.
According to detectives, funds obtained through the alleged scheme were used for personal expenses, including luxury vehicle purchases, personal utility bills, lavish vacations, fine jewelry, and designer accessories.
As a result of the investigation, the individuals were arrested:
Laura Beth Grasso for First-Degree Grand Theft ($100,000 or more), RICO – Conducting an Enterprise Through a Pattern of Racketeering Activity, Organized Fraud ($50,000 or more), and Money Laundering ($100,000 or more).
Tina Marie Mejia for First-Degree Grand Theft ($100,000 or more), RICO – Conducting an Enterprise Through a Pattern of Racketeering Activity, and Organized Fraud ($50,000 or more).
Sheri Lynn Harrs for First-Degree Grand Theft ($100,000 or more), RICO – Conducting an Enterprise Through a Pattern of Racketeering Activity, and Organized Fraud ($50,000 or more).
This investigation remains active and ongoing, according to law enforcement. Detectives were continuing to analyze financial records, follow additional leads, and determine whether further charges or arrests may be appropriate.
The post Fraud Scheme Cost Local Business $7 Million in Florida, Three Arrested appeared first on West Orlando News.
Source: West Orlando News
Published: 2026-08-01 16:39:00