A Georgia man has been arrested on multiple felony charges after allegedly attempting to defraud Florida’s Emergency Bridge Loan program.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested 31-year-old Carl Anthony Needham Jr., of Atlanta, on charges of grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000, identity theft, and money laundering. According to FDLE, all three charges stem from a scheme involving fraudulent applications for state disaster relief funds.
“FDLE and our law enforcement partners will not allow individuals to victimize our Florida citizens or the State of Florida,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “Those funds were intended to help small businesses find their footing after the devastating hurricanes in 2024, not for criminals to steal and fund their criminal activities.”
The case began when the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reported an identity theft complaint connected to an Emergency Bridge Loan (EBL) application filed with the Florida Department of Commerce. Agents learned that two EBL applications were submitted under the same name—one legitimate request for $25,000 by the victim for hurricane recovery, and a second fraudulent request for $38,000.
While both applications used the victim’s personal information, the larger request listed a different bank. The fraudulent application was approved, and investigators found the funds were deposited into an account belonging to Needham.
Taylor County Sheriff Wayne Padgett said the case quickly exceeded local jurisdiction, prompting him to request FDLE’s involvement. “Their partnership helps ensure a thorough, impartial process,” Padgett said, crediting FDLE, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, and the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office for coordinating the arrest.
Investigators later discovered that Needham attempted to hide the stolen funds by transferring the money through multiple financial accounts.
FDLE agents in Tallahassee, working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Needham and transported him to the Paulding County Jail. He will be extradited to Taylor County to face charges. The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Commerce assisted in the investigation.
The State Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial Circuit is prosecuting the case, which remains active.
