Staff report

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Yesterday, authorities arrested Dominic J. DeGrego, 25, and Hannah Elizabeth Hofmann, 24, accusing them of stealing a vehicle in Lake County.

On September 20, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office reached out to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO) regarding a stolen red Bronco, which was tracked to an area east of Newnans Lake.

An ASO Deputy located the vehicle and queried the homeowner, who revealed that DeGrego, a friend, showed up at her residence earlier with Hofmann.

After being read his rights, DeGrego reportedly claimed ignorance about the Bronco’s presence, stating a friend had dropped it off and left.

Conversely, Hofmann reportedly confessed post Miranda that they had stolen the Bronco. Allegedly, they were under the influence of “meth” when she drove DeGrego to the Bronco’s location and followed him in another vehicle until it began overheating, after which she joined DeGrego in the Bronco to travel to the house where it was found.

DeGrego and Hofmann have been charged with grand theft of a vehicle on behalf of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

On the way to the jail, DeGrego reportedly told the deputy he had messed up and didn’t mean to lie about the Bronco.

DeGrego has a history of three state prison stints in Lake, Volusia, and Orange Counties, with his last release in May 2025. Hofmann has a record of one state prison sentence from Marion County on six counts in three cases, including three instances of grand theft of a vehicle, and was released in February 2025.

Judge Sheree Lancaster set bail at $75,000 for DeGrego and $50,000 for Hofmann.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.