STUART, Fla. — A Martin County Sheriff’s Office deputy, Justin Lee, has been arrested and fired amid serious allegations that he manipulated arrests involving prostitution and drugs, made false statements under oath, and tampered with evidence, according to newly released court documents. The sheriff’s office confirmed that Lee was terminated on the same day he was taken into custody.
Investigation Began After Suspicious Arrest Patterns
The internal investigation into Deputy Justin Lee began several months ago when supervisors noticed unusual trends in his activity. While Lee was conducting only one or two traffic stops per night, he was somehow generating frequent felony arrests—a pattern that immediately alarmed senior leadership.
Sheriff John Budensiek said the pattern made no sense for any normal patrol deputy.
“Everybody in Deputy Lee’s chain of command…knows that that’s not physically possible,” Budensiek explained.
Supervisors began checking Lee’s previous stops. During one encounter, Lee claimed the outside of a stopped vehicle tested positive for cocaine, but he was unable to produce the swab or test results that supposedly justified the search.
Supervisors Challenged Inconsistent Behavior
Sheriff Budensiek said Lee became defensive when questioned about his tactics.
“Deputy Lee was actually borderline obstinate…argued with the lieutenant and later complained that he was being second-guessed,” Budensiek said.
Supervisors also noticed that Lee appeared to be over-explaining his actions in documentation—something investigators interpreted as an attempt to retroactively justify searches and seizures.
This prompted the sheriff to order a full internal affairs investigation, which included interviews with individuals Lee had previously arrested.
Deputy Allegedly Contacted Women Through Prostitution Websites
As the investigation expanded, authorities discovered a disturbing pattern. Several of the women Lee arrested had allegedly been communicating with him through prostitution websites.
Sheriff Budensiek clarified that while the agency conducts sanctioned online operations, what Lee allegedly did was completely unauthorized:
“We don’t allow road patrol deputies in the middle of the night by themselves, no supervision, to go out and do this,” he emphasized.
Investigators say Lee allegedly solicited women, arranged to meet for sex, asked them to bring drugs, and gathered information about their vehicles. He would then stop those vehicles under the appearance of routine enforcement—such as running a stop sign—before claiming he had legally uncovered drugs.
According to the sheriff, Lee “made it up as he went along,” knowing drugs were present because he had asked for them beforehand.
False Statements and Evidence Tampering Alleged
The primary violations stemmed from how Lee reportedly documented and reported arrests. Sheriff Budensiek said Lee initially withheld critical information from supervisors and later lied under oath when questioned by the state attorney’s office.
“He was providing a fraction of the information he had and then telling everybody he was just a good cop…It was through omission initially, and then he overtly lied,” Budensiek said.
Lee faces charges for making false statements under oath and tampering with evidence.
Possible Motive and Professional Aspirations
Investigators have not established a definitive motive, but Sheriff Budensiek believes Lee may have been motivated by ambition. The deputy reportedly wanted to work in narcotics and had been approved for a transfer, though staffing shortages had delayed the move.
The sheriff described Lee as “arrogant” about his arrest record and said the deputy frequently portrayed himself as exceptionally successful at catching criminals.
Sheriff Praises Supervisors for Catching the Misconduct
Despite the severity of the case, Sheriff Budensiek said he is proud of the supervisors who recognized irregularities and acted quickly.
“The community knows our supervisors are doing their job…We care about the integrity of the sheriff’s office and the community trust we’ve worked hard to gain,” he added.
Budensiek stressed that the issue was not the arrests themselves—many of the women were involved in prostitution and drug use—but how Lee conducted and reported those arrests.
Community Trust and Law Enforcement Integrity
The sheriff said the agency emphasizes honesty, accurate reporting, and legal procedure.
“Don’t lie and then lie and then create more lies and then try to hide evidence,” he said.
Sheriff Budensiek reaffirmed that misconduct will not be tolerated in the department, even if it involves only one “outlier.”
Bond and Release
Justin Lee, who now faces multiple felony charges, was released from jail on a $30,000 bond Thursday afternoon.
Conclusion
The arrest of Deputy Justin Lee has raised critical questions about accountability, internal oversight, and the importance of transparency in law enforcement. The investigation underscores how even a single case of misconduct can undermine community trust, making the actions of vigilant supervisors all the more vital.
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