Three women in St. Lucie County are facing felony charges after detectives say a bookkeeping insider helped siphon nearly $7 million from a local truss company over seven years. Investigators allege the money moved through unauthorized wire transfers, duplicate payments and personal expenses ranging from utility bills to luxury vehicles.
The arrests came July 16 after an investigation into Southern Truss Companies, according to West Orlando News. Laura Beth Grasso, 43, of Fort Pierce, allegedly used her role as the company’s bookkeeper and comptroller to bypass accounts-payable and payroll controls.
How Detectives Say The Alleged Scheme Worked
According to WPBF, Grasso allegedly initiated millions of dollars in manual wire transfers from company accounts to unintended third parties. Investigators also say she issued duplicate payroll payments that benefited herself, Sheri Lynn Harrs and Tina Marie Mejia.
Detectives allege Grasso provided Harrs, 38, of Fort Pierce, and Mejia, 55, of Port St. Lucie, with additional payments and covered personal expenses to keep them from reporting the activity. The alleged proceeds were used for luxury vehicles, lavish vacations, fine jewelry, designer accessories and household bills, authorities said.
Three Women Face Serious Felony Charges
Grasso was charged with first-degree grand theft of $100,000 or more, conducting an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, organized fraud involving $50,000 or more, and money laundering involving $100,000 or more. Harrs and Mejia each face first-degree grand theft, racketeering and organized-fraud charges, as detailed by Treasure Coast Newspapers…