POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Spring Hill woman serving as the CEO of a local realtor association remains behind bars today, accused of diverting more than $81,000 of the organization’s funds for her own use.
PLEASE NOTE: A full update is available here, with comments from Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) confirmed that detectives obtained an arrest warrant for 53-year-old Jennifer Garula-Mers on Thursday, November 20, 2025. She was taken into custody later that day by deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
Garula-Mers has been charged with Grand Theft over $20,000 and less than $100,000, a felony under Florida Statute 812.014(2)(b)(1).
According to jail records, she is currently being held without bond pending her first appearance in court.
While the specific methods used to allegedly siphon the funds have not yet been released, further details regarding the financial investigation are expected this afternoon. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is scheduled to hold a press conference at 3:00 p.m.
The updated story is here: ‘She Is A Thief’: Polk County Sheriff Judd Slams Former Realtor CEO Accused Of Embezzling Over $81K
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