The former CEO of Florida’s East Polk County Association of Realtors (EPCAR) was arrested on grand theft charges.
According to charges brought by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Jennifer Garula-Mers was hired by EPCAR in July 2020 with an annual salary of about $80,000. Four months later, she increased her own salary to about $85,000 and issued several bonus checks to herself. Over the next three years, she gave herself multiple raises without authorization, culminating in a final annual salary was $99,472.
Furthermore, Garula-Mers gave herself additional unauthorized payroll checks totaling $20,348.89, improper reimbursements totaling $2,112.97, and unauthorized $12,500 in bonuses. These checks were issued and signed by Garula-Mers. She also used EPCAR to finance numerous non-business transactions, including shopping and personal grooming, that totaled $3,267.51.
Garula-Mers also changed EPCAR’s contribution rate to her individual retirement account, netting her an additional $7,938.27. An investigation determined Garula-Mers’ chicanery cost EPCAR a total loss of $81,453.92.
Garula-Mers was terminated from her employment with EPCAR in August 2024. She was arrested on Nov. 20 for Grand Theft over $20,000 and less than $100,000, and is being held on No Bond until First Appearance.
“Jennifer Garula-Mers’ is a thief and stole tens of thousands of dollars from the association,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “I urge all nonprofit associations to have effective checks and balances in place.”
