Lower Merion school board member charged with theft from Bala Cynwyd company
Jennifer Rivera, 41 (Montgomery County District Attorney's Office)
NORRISTOWN, Pa. - A member of the Lower Merion School Board has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies after authorities say she stole more than $50,000 from her former employer in Bala Cynwyd.
Business expenses flagged as personal spending at Bala Cynwyd company
Timeline:
Jennifer Rivera’s former employer, SMB, reported her to Lower Merion Police in June 2026 after a financial review uncovered unusual charges to a company credit card and business Amazon account stretching back to September 2024.
The CEO and Senior Finance Director told investigators that Rivera, 41, used company funds for personal expenses, including $1,339 for Bar Mitzvah videography and photography, more than $25,000 for a family and friends’ vacation, and $25,596.68 on Amazon purchases such as clothing and bathroom accessories, investigators said.
Detectives said the total amount Rivera is accused of taking is $50,243.31.
The audit also showed she booked a future Bahamas trip for her family using company American Express reward points estimated at more than $9,000, which investigators say was unauthorized. Rivera turned herself in to Lower Merion Police on Monday.
What's next:
Rivera was arraigned and bail was set at $25,000 unsecured and ordered her to have no contact with anyone at SMB. She faces four counts of Theft by Deception, Receiving Stolen Property and Access Device Fraud, all third-degree felonies, authorities said.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Sept. 2.
The Source: Information from the Montgomery Couny District Attorney's Office.