Fort Lauderdale Man Arrested in $505,000 Walton County Utility Check Fraud

Investigation Reveals Multiple Stolen Checks and Identity Theft Links

WALTON COUNTY, FLA — A Fort Lauderdale man has been arrested in connection with a $505,400 check fraud scheme targeting a Walton County utility company. Brandon Loud, 32, is currently in custody at the Walton County Jail, with a bond set at $100,000, following an extensive investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau.

The investigation began after a utility company in Santa Rosa Beach reported that a check mailed on August 4, 2025, to a legitimate vendor had been stolen and altered. Instead of reaching the intended recipient, a counterfeit version of the check made payable to Loud was deposited into a JPMorgan Chase account in his name on August 5, 2025.

“Cases like this demonstrate how quickly financial crimes can escalate into six-figure fraud,” said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “We want our residents and businesses to be vigilant and proactive in protecting their accounts.”