Fraud in Hillsborough County, Florida
1,451 cases (2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Hillsborough handled fraud differently from the statewide pattern. The guilty conviction rate was 65.1%, and the dismissal rate of 2.5% was higher than the statewide rate of 1.9%. Most notably, the diversion rate of 15.2% was more than double the statewide average of 6.5%, suggesting Hillsborough's State Attorney actively uses pre-trial diversion programs for fraud cases. Adjudication withheld occurred in 15.9% of cases, slightly below the statewide average.
Sentencing in Hillsborough varied widely: average 499.6 days but median 270 days, indicating some lengthy sentences skew the average. Jail was used in 25.4% of cases and prison in 11.6%. Most defendants (85.6%) retained private attorneys, with only 14.4% represented by public defenders. Average probation was 1,154.9 days and average fines were modest at $52.97.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Fraud charge in Hillsborough County makes it in front of a judge. Of 8,199 prosecutor decisions on Fraud charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 38.5% — above 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 — 65.1% of 1,451 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 1,451 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 | 1,217 | 5.7 months |
| State Prison Facility | 492 | 3.0 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Fraud sentencing in Hillsborough County.
Counsel Analysis (2025)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 793 | 64.9% | 1.6% |
| Black | 617 | 67.3% | 3.7% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,380 | 67.8% | 2.0% | 1 year, 3 months |
| 2024 | 1,361 | 60.0% | 1.3% | 1 year |
| 2025 | 1,451 | 65.1% | 2.5% | 1 year, 4 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 | 2,306 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 1,455 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 279 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 126 |
| Felony | First Degree | 26 |
Related Charges in Hillsborough County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 12,179 | 50.5% | 9.0% |
| Drug Possession | 6,254 | 71.9% | 1.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,618 | 68.4% | 2.6% |
| Sex Offense | 4,360 | 85.4% | 1.9% |
| Trespassing | 2,769 | 81.1% | 8.5% |
| Battery | 3,226 | 49.7% | 3.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,885 | 69.3% | 3.6% |
| Other | 2,559 | 74.0% | 1.9% |
Need a Defense Attorney in Hillsborough County?
Get matched with a local attorney who handles Fraud cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Fraud in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 65.1% based on 1,451 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Fraud in Hillsborough County?
Adjudication is withheld in 15.9% 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 Hillsborough County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 4 months, with an average fine of $53 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
14.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 85.6% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Fraud in Hillsborough County, Florida (2025). Based on 1,451 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/fraud/hillsborough
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Hillsborough 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 · 1,451 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com