William Eric Kriews, 65, was arrested after Jupiter police alleged that he used his access to Jupiter Dunes Golf Club’s payroll system and company credit card for unauthorized payments and personal expenses. He faces one grand theft charge involving $20,000 or more but less than $100,000, according to WPBF.
The amount the association reported losing is substantially higher than the value range in the charge. The Jupiter Dunes Property Association told investigators its total loss was about $210,552, while CBS12 reported approximately $210,553. Those totals include alleged payroll payments and credit-card spending; the reports did not explain why the charging range was lower.
How the alleged payments were identified
Kriews began managing the golf course in 2017 and had access to its financial systems, according to WPBF. The property association said it identified suspicious activity during a 2024 review of the club’s finances. CBS12, citing the probable-cause affidavit, reported that Kriews received regular compensation by check in addition to unauthorized ADP deposits, and that his wife was placed on the association’s payroll even though she did not work there. The report said she was listed under her maiden name.
From September 2019 through December 2024, investigators counted 100 direct deposits to Kriews totaling about $55,791 and 145 deposits to his wife totaling about $57,282, according to CBS12. WPBF separately reported that investigators calculated more than $119,000 in unauthorized direct deposits sent to accounts belonging to the couple during 2019-2024.
What oversight rules may apply
Florida’s Chapter 720 statute says a “lawful obligation” of an association must be preapproved by its board and reflected in meeting minutes or the written budget, according to Florida Statutes section 720.303. The records reviewed do not establish whether that provision applies to Jupiter Dunes or whether the alleged payments were board-approved obligations.
Credit-card spending was also examined
Investigators reviewed company-card records showing roughly $289,000 in charges from 2020 through 2024. After course-related expenses were removed, the association identified about $91,827 as allegedly fraudulent, CBS12 reported. The charges included spending at retailers, restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores, along with transactions outside Florida. Investigators also alleged that Orkin services paid for with the card were performed at Kriews’ home rather than at the golf course.
The review included an Amazon account opened in 2017 under the name Bill Kriews and linked to a Jupiter Dunes email address. From January 2022 through December 2024, the account recorded about $59,865 in purchases charged to Jupiter Dunes cards; the association classified about $27,558 as potentially fraudulent, according to CBS12. The rewrite omits the report’s detailed shipment breakdown because it is not necessary to explain the charge.
Association’s response and police findings
The association fired Kriews on Dec. 31, 2024. It later discussed a financial settlement with him and his attorney, but the negotiations ended without an agreement before the matter was referred to police, CBS12 reported.
In a January 2025 email described in the report, Kriews acknowledged adding his wife to the payroll, said some payments to him were mistakes and acknowledged using the company card for personal purchases. He apologized to the golf course. Investigators said that, as of the Aug. 5 affidavit, they were not aware of any statement Kriews had made to law enforcement.
Jupiter Police Detective Matthew Palladino concluded that the investigation established probable cause for the grand theft charge, according to the reports. The allegations have not been adjudicated.
