Fraud in Lee County, Florida
245 cases (2025) · Lee County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Lee County prosecuted fraud far more aggressively than Florida's statewide average. The guilty rate was 81.2%, with dismissals in only 0.4% of cases compared to the statewide 1.9%. Diversion programs were rarely used — just 1.2% versus the statewide average of 6.5% — suggesting the State Attorney prioritizes court outcomes over case resolution through program completion. Adjudication withheld occurred in 14.7% of cases.
Sentences were substantial: average 560.9 days with a median of 251 days. Confinement was common, with 26.1% receiving prison sentences and 44.1% receiving jail time. Most striking was the public defense representation: 19.2% had public defenders, but only 4.9% retained private attorneys, suggesting many defendants lacked resources for private counsel.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Fraud charge in Lee County makes it in front of a judge. Of 2,109 prosecutor decisions on Fraud charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 49.1% — 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 — 81.2% of 245 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 245 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 | 262 | 4.5 months |
| State Prison Facility | 139 | 3.5 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Fraud sentencing in Lee 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 | 156 | 81.4% | 0.6% |
| Black | 85 | 80.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 213 | 81.7% | 0.9% | 1 year, 2 months |
| 2024 | 202 | 92.1% | 0.0% | 1 year, 8 months |
| 2025 | 245 | 81.2% | 0.4% | 1 year, 6 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 | 354 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 242 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 41 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 14 |
| Felony | First Degree | 9 |
Related Charges in Lee County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 4,039 | 67.2% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 2,117 | 77.4% | 0.1% |
| DUI | 1,301 | 98.9% | 0.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 913 | 82.4% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 686 | 84.0% | 1.9% |
| Battery | 717 | 71.7% | 2.5% |
| Trespassing | 456 | 83.3% | 5.9% |
| Other | 458 | 72.5% | 1.5% |
Need a Defense Attorney in Lee 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 Lee County?
The guilty rate is 81.2% based on 245 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Fraud in Lee County?
Adjudication is withheld in 14.7% 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 Lee County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 6 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
19.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 4.9% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Fraud in Lee County, Florida (2025). Based on 245 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/fraud/lee
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Lee 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 · 245 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com