JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man is facing federal wire fraud charges after being indicted on allegations that he submitted fraudulent documents to collect thousands of dollars in COVID-19 emergency rental assistance.
Edward Malone, a Jacksonville resident, was indicted May 27, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida on two counts of wire fraud.
Recommended Videos
What is ERAP?
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) was created by the U.S. Department of Treasury to provide financial relief to renters struggling to pay rent or utilities due to hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
ERAP was authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Funds were distributed to states, territories and local governments, which each established their own eligibility programs. In Jacksonville, the City of Jacksonville (COJ) administered the program, requiring applicants to submit an ERAP application and demonstrate that at least one household member was obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling in Duval County. If approved, ERAP funds were sent directly to landlords in the form of a check.
Alleged scheme
According to the indictment, from approximately April 2021 through October 2021, Malone allegedly devised a scheme to defraud the COJ ERAP program by submitting roughly nine fraudulent landlord applications — directly and through his company, Rags II Riches Consulting Inc. — along with nine fraudulent lease documents.
Malone owned 18 residential properties and seven commercial properties in Jacksonville, either directly or through Rags II Riches Consulting Inc. The indictment alleges that on each application, he certified his understanding that providing false or fraudulent information could subject him to criminal, civil or administrative penalties.
Investigators say the fraudulent applications were submitted online from Jacksonville to a company based in South Carolina that administered portions of the ERAP program. Once approved, funds were sent from Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina, to bank accounts belonging to Malone in Jacksonville.
The indictment alleges the scheme resulted in approximately $54,100 in fraudulently obtained COJ ERAP funds being deposited into Malone’s accounts.
Two specific counts
The two wire fraud counts center on specific transactions:
- Count One: On or about May 19, 2021, $14,400 was allegedly transmitted from Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina, to a Malone bank account ending in 5700 in Jacksonville.
- Count Two: On or about Sept. 7, 2021, $15,100 was allegedly transmitted from Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina, to the same account.
Potential forfeiture
If convicted, Malone faces forfeiture of at least $54,100 — the amount prosecutors allege was obtained through the fraudulent scheme. The government may also seek substitute assets if the original funds cannot be recovered.