ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A 41-year-old Jacksonville man was arrested Wednesday in St. Johns County on charges of grand theft over $100,000 and organized scheme to defraud.
Gerald Brewer was booked into the St. Johns County jail on a $500,000 bond.
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Detectives said they began an investigation nearly two months ago when the owners of a Ponte Vedra Beach accounting firm discovered that an employee had allegedly embezzled over $500,000 between May and October.
Brewer, who was employed as an accountant for the business, was assigned to perform accounting and payroll duties for an international company, investigators said. They said Brewer had added himself to the company's payroll and he was paying himself a salary, reimbursement expenses and bonus checks.
Investigators said Brewer fraudulently removed over $530,000 from the company during that time.
Detectives said they obtained search warrants to get the evidence on Brewer, and an arrest warrant was issued on Nov. 10. Detectives said Brewer refused to cooperate with the investigation and was aware of the warrant.
He was located early Wednesday evening and remains in the St. Johns County jail.