For residents of the Treasure Coast, local businesses are the backbone of our community. That is why a recent financial scandal in St. Lucie County is sending shockwaves through the region. A massive law enforcement presence recently descended on a Fort Pierce neighborhood as detectives executed a search warrant tied to an alleged $7 million fraud scheme targeting a well-known local business, Southern Truss Companies.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the search took place at a residence in the Indian River Estates neighborhood near Sunset Boulevard. The home belongs to Laura Beth Grasso, the former bookkeeper and comptroller for Southern Truss, who was arrested in mid-July alongside two other women, Sheri Lynn Harrs and Tina Marie Mejia.
The years-long scheme allegedly drained nearly $7 million from the local Treasure Coast business, with investigators claiming the funds were diverted to finance luxury vehicles, designer goods, high-end vacations, and everyday personal expenses.
According to investigators, Grasso used her high-level administrative access to bypass corporate financial controls, quietly funneling millions of dollars out of the company’s accounts between 2019 and 2025. While she has pleaded not guilty, the scale of the accusations is staggering.
Grasso is currently facing several severe charges, including:
- 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 (RICO)
- Money laundering of $100,000 or more
Her bond was set at a combined $1.15 million. In a proactive legal move, prosecutors have requested a specialized court hearing to verify the source of any bail money, arguing that funds obtained through criminal enterprise should not be permitted to secure her release from the St. Lucie County Jail.
This recent property search follows a previous warrant executed in late July on a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe registered to Grasso. During that vehicle search, deputies uncovered approximately $8,500 in cash, a jewelry organizer, high-end Louis Vuitton accessories, and a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P .40 Shield pistol safely located in the glove box.
In addition to the criminal investigation, Southern Truss has filed a civil lawsuit against Grasso, Harrs, and Mejia. The civil complaint alleges that Grasso alone was responsible for misappropriating at least $5 million through unauthorized wire transfers and falsified payroll payments, while her co-defendants allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars. Despite the ongoing criminal case, a magistrate has ordered that the civil proceedings continue moving forward without delay.
As this complex financial investigation unfolds right here on the Treasure Coast, we will continue to keep an eye on how it impacts our local business community and the legal precedents it may set for corporate security and trust in our area.
