Fraud in Broward County, Florida
976 cases (2025) · Broward County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Broward County prosecuted 976 fraud cases with outcomes shaped heavily by withheld adjudication. Guilty verdicts reached 55.2%, but 40.2% of cases ended in withheld adjudication—nearly double the statewide 19.6%—avoiding conviction records for many defendants. Only 0.6% diverted to programs and 3.3% dismissed, both well below statewide averages. Broward channels defendants away from conviction records but offers little diversionary exit, suggesting prosecutors aggressively pursue guilt findings but accept record-free resolutions.
Sentenced defendants averaged 593 days confinement plus 1,602 days probation—the longest probation term among fraud counties, indicating intensive supervision expectations. Prison incarceration reached 12.2%, with 22.3% jailed. High probation durations reflect fraud's white-collar nature: courts prioritize restitution, monitoring, and behavioral compliance over incarceration. Broward's reliance on withheld adjudication suggests a sophisticated bench managing complex financial cases with an eye toward rehabilitation and future employment.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Fraud charge in Broward County makes it in front of a judge. Of 7,826 prosecutor decisions on Fraud charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 35.9% — in line with the 33.7% statewide rate. These decisions happen early in a case, before trial.
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney case data (2023-2025). Rates are per charge, not per defendant — a dropped charge often reflects a plea agreement on another charge in the same case, not the case going away. Percentages are of charges receiving a prosecution decision; transfers between courts are excluded. Court outcome data on this page is a separate dataset covering cases that reached disposition. Statewide charging patterns: The Florida Prosecution Report.
Outcome Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 55.2% of 976 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 976 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 621 | 6.0 months |
| State Prison Facility | 380 | 3.3 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Fraud sentencing in Broward County.
Demographics (2025)
Demographic data reflects systemic patterns in the criminal justice system and should not be used to draw conclusions about any racial or ethnic group. Disparities may reflect differences in policing, prosecution, and socioeconomic factors rather than actual crime rates.
| Race | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 643 | 59.4% | 4.0% |
| Not Available | 323 | 48.0% | 1.9% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 632 | 64.4% | 0.9% | 1 year, 6 months |
| 2024 | 901 | 57.3% | 2.2% | 1 year, 6 months |
| 2025 | 976 | 55.2% | 3.3% | 1 year, 8 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 1,092 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 912 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 350 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 91 |
| Felony | First Degree | 64 |
Related Charges in Broward County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 6,520 | 22.1% | 1.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,161 | 62.6% | 1.7% |
| Drug Possession | 2,012 | 54.5% | 12.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,556 | 52.6% | 5.3% |
| Trespassing | 1,337 | 55.9% | 4.7% |
| Other | 1,326 | 32.6% | 32.9% |
| Battery | 823 | 53.9% | 8.3% |
| DUI | 839 | 81.0% | 2.7% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Fraud in Broward County?
The guilty rate is 55.2% based on 976 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Fraud in Broward County?
Adjudication is withheld in 40.2% of cases (2025). This is a Florida-specific outcome where the court finds guilt but does not formally convict, allowing the defendant to avoid a conviction record under FL Statute 948.01.
What is the average sentence for Fraud in Broward County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 8 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Fraud in Broward County, Florida (2025). Based on 976 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/fraud/broward
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Broward County. "Guilty" includes all cases where the defendant was found guilty. "Adjudication withheld" is a Florida-specific disposition where guilt is found but the court withholds formal adjudication under FL Statute 948.01. "Dismissed" includes all cases dismissed by the court or prosecution.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 976 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com