Reduction in pay rate as a method of witholding pay

[EngineerInFlorida]

My former employer has withheld pay through the method of reducing my pay rate for my last paycheck from $40/hour to minimum wage, indicating they are withholding this difference until they are satisified that they have received some computer files from me, which I returned prior to terminating my employment.

I work out of Florida, the company is based in Virginia.

Is this legal? I have an employment contract that specifies my hourly rate based on my annual salary. I have signed no document authorizing them to reduce my hourly rate under any circumstances.

[Pattymd]

You will have to have the contract reviewed by a local attorney. We cannot interpret a contract we have not read in its entirety.

[EngineerInFlorida]

Clarification

My employer stated that they were reducing my hourly rate, but the pay stub does not indicate this - the pay stub indicates "Travel Advance Payback", however there was no travel advance.

[cbg]

None of which changes Patty's answer, which is still correct.