For Immediate Release

March 30, 2026

FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announces the arrest of Christee Michelle Yoder, 49, of Tavares, on one count of fraudulent claim of exemption (sales tax). Yoder had been employed with the City of Fruitland Park for thirteen years and served as the Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Fruitland Park. 

In Nov. 2025, FDLE agents and investigators with the Florida Department of Revenue and the Fruitland Park Police Department initiated a joint investigation after receiving complaints alleging that Christee Yoder, then serving as director, was using the City of Fruitland Park Consumer’s Certificate of Exemption to fraudulently claim sales tax exemption. 

Yoder, while acting in her official capacity as the Parks and Recreation Director, used the City’s certificate of exemption while making personal purchases on the City of Fruitland Park’s Amazon business account to evade the payment of sales tax. 

The investigation revealed that between May 2021 and Feb. 2026, Yoder purchased more than $24,000 of personal items using the City of Fruitland Park’s Amazon business account with her personal credit card and evaded the payment of sales tax on these items, totaling $1,580. An additional mandatory penalty of 200 percent of the tax was calculated, totaling $4,730.

On March 19, 2026, FDLE agents obtained an arrest warrant for Yoder. That same day, she surrendered at the Lake County Jail. 

The case is being prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit.

The investigation remains active. 

For Further Information Contact:

FDLE Office of Public Information