Fraud in Pinellas County, Florida
807 cases (2025) · Pinellas County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Pinellas County adjudicated 810 fraud cases—the largest cohort—with patterns favoring conviction. Guilty verdicts occurred in 73.2%, the highest rate among these fraud counties, with adjudication withheld in only 12.7%—the lowest withheld rate. Dismissals were rare at 1.4%, marginally below the statewide 1.9%. However, diversion at 11.1% substantially exceeded the statewide 6.5%, suggesting the State Attorney channels selected cases into alternative programs.
Sentences were moderate, with a median of 180 days and average of 578 days. Prison time affected 17.2% of defendants; jail time 43.0%. Probation averaged 1,275 days. Remarkably, only 9.0% of defendants were represented by public defenders—the lowest rate in this group—suggesting either more private-counsel defendants or a distinct case composition.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Fraud charge in Pinellas County makes it in front of a judge. Of 3,427 prosecutor decisions on Fraud charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 42.9% — 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 — 73.5% of 807 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 807 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 1,148 | 5.1 months |
| State Prison Facility | 493 | 4.0 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Fraud sentencing in Pinellas County.
Need a Defense Attorney in Pinellas 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 Pinellas County?
The guilty rate is 73.5% based on 807 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Fraud in Pinellas County?
Adjudication is withheld in 12.6% 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 Pinellas County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 1 year, 7 months, with an average fine of $168 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
10.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 5.7% retain private counsel (2025).
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 | 417 | 78.2% | 1.9% |
| Black | 298 | 71.5% | 0.3% |
| Asian | 10 | 30.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 949 | 72.7% | 7.5% | 1 year, 8 months |
| 2024 | 1,017 | 74.9% | 3.2% | 1 year, 4 months |
| 2025 | 807 | 73.5% | 1.4% | 1 year, 7 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 | 1,399 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 1,036 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 156 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 93 |
| Felony | First Degree | 89 |
Related Charges in Pinellas County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 6,836 | 76.0% | 1.5% |
| Other | 6,400 | 14.4% | 0.4% |
| Traffic Offense | 5,464 | 78.4% | 0.6% |
| DUI | 2,353 | 97.8% | 0.7% |
| Trespassing | 2,539 | 86.2% | 4.8% |
| Larceny / Theft | 2,443 | 75.3% | 2.0% |
| Battery | 2,015 | 55.2% | 3.4% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,570 | 78.5% | 1.5% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Fraud in Pinellas County, Florida (2025). Based on 807 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/fraud/pinellas
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Pinellas 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 · 807 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com