Accountant charged with embezzling client funds

A 41-year-old Duval County man was arrested on charges of grand theft over $100,000 and organized scheme to defraud early Wednesday evening according to a report received by Historic City News this afternoon.

Financial Crimes Detective Kevin Greene began an investigation nearly two months ago when the owners of a Ponte Vedra Beach accounting firm discovered that over a half million dollars had been embezzled from one of their international clients.

The incident report reveals that the accountant assigned to the client, Gerald Clyde Brewer, whose last reported address was 1608 Linares Way in Jacksonville, added himself to the company’s payroll. Brewer was reportedly paying himself a salary, reimbursement expenses, as well as bonus checks.

According to the report, Brewer fraudulently withdrew over $530,000 from the company between May and October of this year.

Brewer learned that detectives had obtained a search warrant and he refused to cooperate with the investigation. He was located by authorities early Wednesday evening and was taken into custody. Brewer is being held in lieu of bonds totaling $500,000.