FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Fort Pierce woman is accused of using her bookkeeping job to help carry out a seven-year scheme that cost a local business nearly $7 million, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.

Three people were arrested simultaneously on July 16, 2026, following what the sheriff’s office described as a lengthy and complex investigation into the alleged fraud scheme.

According to detectives, 43-year-old Laura Beth Grasso, of Fort Pierce, worked as the business’s bookkeeper and comptroller and used her position of trust and unsupervised administrative access to the company’s financial systems to facilitate the scheme.

Investigators said Grasso allegedly bypassed established accounts payable procedures and initiated millions of dollars in unauthorized manual wire transfers from the business’s bank accounts to unintended third parties.

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Deputies also allege Grasso worked with 38-year-old Sheri Lynn Harrs, of Fort Pierce, and 55-year-old Tina Marie Mejia, of Port St. Lucie, to bypass payroll controls and issue duplicate payments benefiting themselves and one another.

The sheriff’s office said Grasso allegedly provided additional payments to Harrs and Mejia and covered personal expenses as a way to ensure their silence about the alleged fraudulent activity.

Detectives said money obtained through the alleged scheme was used for personal expenses, including luxury vehicles, utility bills, lavish vacations, fine jewelry, designer accessories and other purchases.

Grasso was arrested on charges of first-degree grand theft of $100,000 or more, organized fraud of $50,000 or more, conducting an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and money laundering of $100,000 or more.

Harrs and Mejia were each arrested on charges of first-degree grand theft of $100,000 or more, organized fraud of $50,000 or more and conducting an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains active as detectives continue reviewing financial records, following additional leads and determining whether more charges or arrests may be appropriate.