Lower Merion School Board member Jennifer Rivera, 41, of Bala Cynwyd, turned herself in to Lower Merion Township Police on Monday on multiple felony charges stemming from her employment at SMB, a Bala Cynwyd law firm marketing agency, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Lower Merion Township Police Superintendent Andrew Block said.<\/p>\n
Daily Voice obtained the criminal complaint, which details an internal audit that investigators say uncovered $50,243.31 in company money spent for Rivera’s personal benefit.<\/p>\n
The investigation began after SMB’s CEO and senior finance director contacted police in June, reporting that an internal financial review found Rivera had been using a company-issued American Express card for personal expenses dating back to September 2024, according to the DA’s office.<\/p>\n
The review began after a finance official spotted a $1,339 Venmo payment to another employee while reviewing an American Express statement, according to the affidavit of probable cause.<\/p>\n
That employee told the company the money was for video and photography services at a friend’s Bar Mitzvah, according to the court documents.<\/p>\n
The audit then uncovered far more, investigators explained.<\/p>\n
Rivera is accused of charging $25,307.63 in travel expenses for herself, family members, and friends, including $14,707.71 in airfare, $10,369.07 in hotel reservations, and $230.85 in vehicle rentals, the affidavit states.<\/p>\n
Company officials told investigators that while spouses could accompany employees on business travel if the employee reimbursed SMB, additional family members, friends, and acquaintances were not authorized to travel at company expense.<\/p>\n
The audit also found a future Bahamas trip Rivera allegedly booked for Aug. 1 through Aug. 8 using 906,593 company American Express points valued at $9,065.93, according to the affidavit. The company’s calendar showed Rivera was scheduled to be staying in the Bahamas during that period, investigators said.<\/p>\n
Another $25,596.68 in alleged personal purchases was uncovered through the company’s Amazon account, according to the DA’s office.<\/p>\n
Court documents cite one purchase that included a dress, medicine cabinet organizer, and bathroom cup dispenser shipped to Rivera’s Bala Cynwyd home. Investigators say the $83.04 purchase was entered on a company spreadsheet as “Bill’s Office Set-Up in PR.”<\/p>\n
Rivera was placed on administrative leave while the audit was conducted, according to the affidavit.<\/p>\n
She is charged with theft by unlawful taking, multiple counts of theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and access device fraud, all third-degree felonies, according to the criminal complaint.<\/p>\n
Rivera was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Adam T. Katzman and released on $25,000 unsecured bail. She was ordered to have no contact with anyone at SMB. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, before Magisterial District Judge Karen Eisner Zucker.<\/p>\n
Rivera is currently listed as a member of the Lower Merion Board of School Directors on the district’s website.<\/p>\n
Her campaign website highlighted her professional experience with financial oversight, strategic planning, and audits, saying she had supported Finance, Audit, and Investment Committees and helped manage a budget exceeding $100 million.<\/p>\n
Rivera’s LinkedIn profile describing her as an “Executive Assistant | Operations & Project…” and saying she thrives on “organization, problem-solving, and helping busy leaders stay focused on what matters most.”<\/p>\n
Lower Merion Board of School Directors President Dr. Kerry Sautner said the district learned Monday afternoon that Rivera had turned herself in on felony theft charges related to her employment.<\/p>\n
Sautner stressed that none of the charges involve the school district, its finances, or taxpayer funds.<\/p>\n
She said she had not yet discussed Rivera’s future on the board with her, but added that officials “must also consider the potential impact of this situation on our Board.”<\/p>\n
The district will share additional information when it becomes available, Sautner said.<\/p>\n