A Seminole County deputy is facing a felony charge after investigators say he turned routine overtime into a personal payday. Deputy Nestor Nieves Jr. surrendered yesterday at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility after the Office of the State Attorney for Florida’s 18th Judicial Circuit issued a warrant accusing him of organized fraud. The alleged scheme covers Oct. 1, 2024, through Aug. 31, 2025, and records show Nieves posted a $3,000 bond.
What prosecutors allege
According to a capias filed with the state attorney, Nieves is accused of filing overtime timesheets for hours he never actually worked, collecting thousands of dollars in pay he was not entitled to, FOX 35 Orlando reports. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office first conducted an internal review, then turned its findings over to prosecutors, who determined there was probable cause before moving ahead with the arrest warrant.
Internal review and discipline
The sheriff’s office placed Nieves on suspension in late August 2025 and has already started the process to fire him. Sheriff Dennis Lemma has issued a notice of proposed discipline that seeks Nieves’ termination, WFTV reports. Under agency policy, Nieves has the right to request a name-clearing hearing if he wants to publicly challenge the proposed firing while the criminal case works its way through the courts.
Related probe leaves questions
The controversy is not confined to a single badge. A second deputy has also been suspended in connection with a related inquiry, although officials have released almost no details about that case so far, according to WESH. The sheriff’s office confirmed that Nieves invoked a public-information exemption available to sworn officers, which means his booking photo will not be released.
Not an isolated problem
Overtime and off-duty pay have become a recurring headache for Central Florida law enforcement agencies. In December, a former Sanford police officer was arrested on dozens of counts after investigators said he fabricated off-duty work details and collected more than $12,000 in payouts that were not earned, FOX 35 Orlando reported. Cases like these highlight how extra-duty scheduling and invoicing systems can turn into easy targets for abuse when oversight and verification are weak.
Legal consequences
Prosecutors have charged Nieves under Florida’s scheme-to-defraud law, which addresses organized fraud and scales penalties according to how much money was allegedly taken. When the total value is under $20,000, the offense is a third-degree felony under Florida Statutes. Florida’s penalty guidelines classify a third-degree felony as punishable by up to five years in prison, as outlined in Florida law.
What’s next
The Office of the State Attorney for the 18th Judicial Circuit will now decide whether to move forward by filing a formal information or seeking an indictment as the case progresses, WFTV reports. For the moment, Nieves remains free on bond while the investigation continues. The sheriff’s office has said that any potential charges tied to the second suspended deputy will be announced if and when that separate probe reaches a conclusion.
