Flo Rida -- Slapped with $7k Fine for LYING to a Judge

Flo Rida is learning the hard way -- it's never a good idea to lie in court ... and now a judge is ordering him to cough up $7k for his deceitful ways.

If you recall, Flo is being sued by his former assistant Mahogany Miller -- who claims he worked her to the bone for a measly $3.08 / hour and then fired her when she complained -- which Flo's told us was BS​ ... alleging she was just an unpaid intern.

Problem is, Flo originally didn't respond to the suit in time and later told a judge it was because he was never served papers -- claiming they went to a woman named Stephany Nelson, whom he didn't know -- and the address listed for him was incorrect.

Turns out, his excuses were big, fat LIES ... Flo later copped to the address originally listed and admitted that Nelson was actually an employee of his. In other words, his original statements were total fabrications.

Caught red-handed, the judge said the rapper's deception was "premeditated" and ordered him to pay Mahogany $7k for her attorney fees.