POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The former chief executive of the East Polk County Association of Realtors (EPCAR) finds herself behind bars this week, accused of systematically siphoning more than $81,000 from the organization to fund unauthorized pay raises, bonuses, and personal shopping sprees.
Following a lengthy investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 53-year-old Jennifer Garula-Mers was taken into custody on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Deputies in neighboring Hernando County arrested Garula-Mers, of Spring Hill, on a warrant for Grand Theft involving amounts between $20,000 and $100,000.
According to investigators, the financial improprieties began almost immediately after Garula-Mers was hired in 2020.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, known for his blunt assessments of criminal behavior, did not mince words regarding the findings.
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“Our investigation found that she made unauthorized raises and bonuses to herself, and non-business credit card charges that began within a few months after she was hired,” Judd stated. “Jennifer Garula-Mers is a thief and stole tens of thousands of dollars from the association.”
A Pattern of Unauthorized Increases
Detectives say Garula-Mers was brought on board in 2020 with an agreed-upon annual salary of roughly $80,000. However, records indicate that by November of that same year—just four months into her tenure—she unilaterally increased her pay to approximately $85,000.
The unapproved hikes reportedly continued over the next three years. By November 2023, her salary had ballooned to $99,472. Investigators calculated that these unauthorized salary adjustments and deposits totaled $43,105.86.
The warrant details a web of financial maneuvers used to extract funds from the non-profit. Beyond her base salary, Garula-Mers is accused of signing and issuing herself $20,348.89 in extra payroll checks and $12,500 in unauthorized bonuses.
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She also allegedly altered the association’s contribution rate to her personal Individual Retirement Account (IRA), netting an additional $7,938.27 at the organization’s expense.
Personal Grooming and Amazon Orders
The investigation also scrutinized the use of the EPCAR corporate credit card. Detectives discovered $3,267.51 in transactions that had no relation to real estate business. The expenditures covered a range of personal luxuries and necessities, including dining out, household goods, personal grooming services, and various orders on Amazon.
EPCAR terminated Garula-Mers’ employment in August 2024. The Sheriff’s Office determined the total financial loss to the association was $81,453.92.
“I urge all nonprofit associations to have effective checks and balances in place,” Sheriff Judd added.
Garula-Mers is currently being held on no bond pending her first court appearance. She is expected to be transferred from Hernando County to Polk County to face the second-degree felony charge.
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