PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents yesterday arrested Tracy Joseph Hoffman, 54, of 19110 Glades Cutoff Road, Port St. Lucie, Fla. and James Michael Lee, 64, of 381 SW Duval Ave., Port St. Lucie, Fla. for fraudulent billing practices involving Florida Department of Transportation contracts. Hoffman was charged with one count each of grand theft and aggravated white collar crime and Lee was charged with four counts of filing false documents with the Department of Financial Services.

The FDOT Office of Inspector General notified FDLE after receiving a complaint alleging Hoffman’s company, Gator Signage and Striping, LLC, was fraudulently billing FDOT. Lee was the FDOT special projects coordinator assigned to Hoffman’s contract. FDLE and the FDOT IG’s Office worked closely during the course of this investigation and determined that Hoffman submitted fraudulent invoices to Lee requesting payment and Lee approved the fraudulent invoices. Lee would then file fraudulent documents with DFS to secure Hoffman’s payments. Agents believe Lee helped Hoffman receive more than $47,000 in payments for work he did not perform and materials he did not provide to FDOT.

Lee was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail on $100,000 bond and Hoffman was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail on $150,000 bond.

For further information contact:
Gretl Plessinger, Molly Best, Samantha Andrews or Steve Arthur
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001