FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A large law enforcement presence descended on a Fort Pierce neighborhood Tuesday morning as detectives executed a search warrant connected to an alleged fraud scheme that investigators say cost a local business nearly $7 million.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to CBS12 News that deputies are serving a search warrant as part of the ongoing investigation into the Southern Truss fraud case.
Crime scene investigators were seen outside the home of Laura Beth Grasso in the Indian River Estates neighborhood near Sunset Boulevard.
Grasso was arrested July 16 along with Sheri Lynn Harrs and Tina Marie Mejia following what the sheriff’s office described as a years-long scheme targeting Southern Truss Companies. Grasso has pleaded not guilty to the charges, court records show.
Investigators allege Grasso, who worked as the company’s bookkeeper and comptroller, used her administrative access to bypass financial controls and funnel millions of dollars out of the business. Detectives say the money was spent on luxury vehicles, vacations, designer goods, jewelry and other personal expenses.
Grasso faces charges of:
First-degree grand theft of $100,000 or moreOrganized fraud of $50,000 or moreConducting an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity (RICO)Money laundering of $100,000 or moreHarrs and Mejia each face charges of grand theft, organized fraud and racketeering.
Grasso’s bond was set at a combined $1.15 million across the four charges.
Prosecutors have asked a judge to hold a hearing on the legitimacy and source of any bail premium or collateral before allowing Grasso to be released from the St. Lucie County Jail, arguing in a court filing that a defendant should not be able to use money obtained through criminal activity to secure her release.
Tuesday’s search follows an earlier warrant served on a vehicle connected to Grasso. A judge signed that warrant July 24, authorizing detectives to search a blue 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe registered to Grasso that had been towed to the sheriff’s office evidence compound the day after her arrest. According to an inventory filed with the court, deputies found roughly $8,500 in cash, a jewelry organizer with jewelry, a Louis Vuitton purse and wallet, and a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P .40 Shield pistol in the glove box.
SLCSO SEARCH WARRANT AND INVENTORYPDF previewPreview PDF
Southern Truss also filed a civil lawsuit against the three women, alleging they carried out a coordinated scheme between 2019 and 2025 to divert company funds through unauthorized payroll payments, wire transfers and other transactions. The amended complaint alleges Grasso alone misappropriated at least $5 million, while Mejia and Harrs allegedly received hundreds of thousands more.
The criminal case remains pending. Court records show a magistrate in June declined to pause the related civil case because of the criminal proceedings, instead ordering the defendants to respond to discovery by July 30 and complete depositions by Aug. 31.
The sheriff’s office has not released details about what investigators are searching for at Grasso’s home or whether any additional arrests are expected.
CBS12 has a crew at the scene and will update this story as more information becomes available.