Fraud in Monroe County, Florida
138 cases (2025) · Monroe County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Monroe County processed 138 fraud cases with notably protective outcomes. Adjudication was withheld in 27.5%—well above the statewide 19.6%—allowing guilty findings to avoid creating formal convictions. Guilty verdicts still occurred in 65.2%, but dismissals were zero compared to the statewide 1.9%. The diversion rate of 7.2% marginally exceeded the statewide 6.5%, suggesting some alternative resolutions.
Monroe imposed the mildest sentences in this group. Median confinement was just 81 days; average was 211 days. Only 8.7% of defendants received prison time, and 38.4% jail time. Probation averaged 1,075 days. Notably, Monroe County defendants had exceptional access to private counsel: 51.4% retained private attorneys compared to typical public defender dominance elsewhere. This likely reflects a more affluent defendant profile.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Fraud charge in Monroe County makes it in front of a judge. Of 355 prosecutor decisions on Fraud charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 35.2% — 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 — 65.2% of 138 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 138 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 | 145 | 4.0 months |
| State Prison Facility | 51 | 2.2 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Fraud sentencing in Monroe 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 | 100 | 66.0% | 0.0% |
| Black | 18 | 61.1% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 130 | 57.7% | 1.5% | 6.7 months |
| 2024 | 217 | 80.2% | 0.0% | 1 year, 4 months |
| 2025 | 138 | 65.2% | 0.0% | 7.0 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 | 281 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 116 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 65 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 19 |
| Felony | First Degree | 4 |
Related Charges in Monroe County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 985 | 37.0% | 0.3% |
| Other | 730 | 54.0% | 0.5% |
| Drug Possession | 551 | 52.5% | 1.3% |
| Trespassing | 311 | 89.1% | 0.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 272 | 63.6% | 0.7% |
| DUI | 291 | 89.7% | 1.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 240 | 80.0% | 1.2% |
| Battery | 223 | 52.0% | 0.4% |
Need a Defense Attorney in Monroe 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 Monroe County?
The guilty rate is 65.2% based on 138 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Fraud in Monroe County?
Adjudication is withheld in 27.5% 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 Monroe County?
The average sentence is 7.0 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
45.7% of defendants use a public defender, while 51.4% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Fraud in Monroe County, Florida (2025). Based on 138 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/fraud/monroe
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Monroe 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 · 138 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com