Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sheriff Nestor Nieves Jr. turned himself in today at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility after the Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit completed its review of a criminal investigation and an arrest warrant was issued charging him with one count of Organized Fraud, a third-degree felony. His bond was set at $3,000, which he has since posted.
The charge stems from an investigation into his conduct while assigned to off-duty overtime details. The investigation determined that between October 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025, Deputy Nieves, Jr. submitted timesheets reflecting overtime hours he did not work. According to the capias request filed with the Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit, he falsified overtime entries and obtained thousands of dollars in compensation to which he was not entitled.
After completing the investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office filed a capias request with the Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit, for prosecutorial review. The Office of the State Attorney determined that probable cause exists for the third-degree felony charge of Organized Fraud and issued the arrest warrant.
Deputy Nieves, Jr. has been employed with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office since September 2015. He has been suspended since late August 2025 pending the outcome of the investigation and has now been served with a Notice of Proposed Discipline for termination by Sheriff Dennis Lemma. As part of the agency’s disciplinary process, he may request a name-clearing hearing to appeal the proposed termination.
One additional deputy is currently suspended as part of a related investigation involving similar alleged conduct. That investigation remains active and ongoing. No additional information will be released at this time regarding that matter. Any potential charges related to the second individual will be announced at the conclusion of the investigation if appropriate.
Under Florida law, Deputy Nieves, Jr. has requested the Public Information Exemption as a sworn law enforcement officer. As a result, his booking photograph is not being released.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office holds its members to the highest standards. When allegations of misconduct arise, they are thoroughly investigated. We remain committed to accountability, transparency, and maintaining the trust of the community we serve.
