Charges and Initial Court Proceedings

A Lower Merion School Board member was charged Monday with stealing more than $50,000 from the law firm marketing agency where she works, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office. Jennifer Rivera, 41, of Bala Cynwyd, faces charges of theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and access device fraud.

Rivera turned herself in to police on Aug. 24. She was released on $25,000 bail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 2. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, which first reported the arrest, Rivera could not be reached for comment, and there was no indication she had hired an attorney. Representatives of SMB, [the Bala Cynwyd firm that helps lawyers advertise to prospective clients] did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The investigation began in June, when the CEO and Senior Finance Director at SMB told police that an internal review showed Rivera had used a company credit card for personal expenses, starting in September 2024. According to an affidavit of probable cause cited by the Inquirer, Rivera used the company card to make purchases beginning in October when she had a dress and a bathroom organizer shipped to her home.

The Nature of the Spending

Authorities said Rivera used the company’s funds for family vacations, clothing, and a videographer to film a friend’s son’s bar mitzvah. The Mechanicsburg Patriot News reported the breakdown: $1,339 on videography and photography for a bar mitzvah; over $25,000 on a vacation for her family and friends; and $25,596.68 on clothing, bathroom accessories, and other personal items. In addition, she had booked a forthcoming trip to the Bahamas for her family worth more than $9,000 in SMB’s American Express travel points, which she was not authorized to use.

In total, Rivera is accused of embezzling $50,243.31, according to the Patriot News.

How the Theft Was Uncovered

The theft was uncovered in May, when a senior vice president at SMB found that Rivera had used the company card to pay a coworker nearly $1,400 through Venmo. According to prosecutors, when questioned, Rivera lied and said the payment was a business expense. But the coworker, who owns a private videography business, told company officials the payment was for a "last-minute" bar mitzvah gig he agreed to do after the original videographer canceled. He said Rivera had told him she had paid him from her personal account, but he realized afterward it was company money. The coworker said he knew the payment was "shady" and was "not sure how she could be so blatantly untruthful."

The coworker also said Rivera used the company card to fly him and his wife to another employee's wedding, where he was hired to take photos, and assured him she was allowed to use the card for that.

After being presented with evidence about the bar mitzvah payment, Rivera said she may have used the wrong Venmo account by mistake, became distraught, and said the accusations put her in a "dark place." Rivera was placed on administrative leave but asked to be fired, saying "the waiting is adding stress."

School Board Response

Rivera sits on the Lower Merion School Board, where she is co-chair of the curriculum committee and a member of the facilities and purchases committee. Board president Kerry Sautner said in a statement that she had not yet had an opportunity to discuss Rivera's future on the board with her. "While it is important to note that anyone charged with a crime remains innocent until proven guilty, we must also consider the potential impact of this situation on our Board." Sautner emphasized that none of the charges relate to the school district or its finances.

Rivera was elected to the school board in November as part of the ElectLMSD Democratic slate.

The case is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 2.