A Georgia man was arrested on charges of grand theft, identity theft, and money laundering after attempting a scam in Florida.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested 31-year-old Carl Anthony Needham Jr., of Atlanta, Georgia. He faces one count each of grand theft over $20,000 and under $100,000, a first-degree felony; identity theft, a second-degree felony; and money laundering, a second-degree felony.
“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 recover after the devastating hurricanes in 2024, not for criminals to steal.”
The investigation began after the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reported an identity theft involving an Emergency Bridge Loan (EBL) application with the Florida Department of Commerce.
Agents discovered the Department of Commerce had received two EBL applications under the same name—one for $25,000, legitimately submitted by the victim for hurricane-related repairs, and a fraudulent one for $38,000. The fraudulent application listed a different bank account, where the funds were deposited. Needham was identified as the account holder.
Taylor County Sheriff Wayne Padgett said, “When this fraud case surfaced, it quickly became clear the investigation spanned multiple jurisdictions. With FDLE’s assistance, along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, an arrest has been made, holding the individual accountable.”
Further investigation revealed Needham attempted to hide the theft by moving the stolen funds across multiple accounts.
FDLE agents in Tallahassee, alongside Georgia authorities, arrested Needham and transported him to Paulding County Jail. He will be extradited to Taylor County Jail. The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and 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.