This is a press release from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s Securities Division has launched an investigation into the business practices of First Liberty Building and Loan (“First Liberty”) following concerns about its investment activities. As part of the investigation, the Division is reaching out to individuals who may have invested money with First Liberty. If you believe you are one of those victims, officials are requesting that you complete a brief confidential survey to assist in the fact-finding process.
“We are committed to protecting Georgians who may have been misled. Our division works tirelessly to ensure transparency and accountability in the securities marketplace,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. “Public input is vital to that mission.”
The Securities Division is responsible for regulating the securities industry in Georgia, including the investment products offered to residents, the firms and professionals who sell them, and the businesses that solicit funds from the public for investment purposes.
If you engaged with First Liberty and have not yet submitted a formal complaint with the Securities Division, you are encouraged to do so using the appropriate channels on the Secretary of State’s website. Individuals who contact the office will be treated confidentially.
From the US Securities & Exchange Commission:
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it filed charges seeking an asset freeze and other emergency relief against Newnan, Georgia-based First Liberty Building & Loan, LLC and its founder and owner Edwin Brant Frost IV in connection with a Ponzi scheme that defrauded approximately 300 investors of at least $140 million.
According to the SEC’s complaint, from approximately 2014 through June 2025, First Liberty and Frost offered and sold to retail investors promissory notes and loan participation agreements that offered returns of up to 18% by representing that investor funds would be used to make short-term bridge loans to businesses at relatively high interest rates. The defendants allegedly told investors that very few of these loans had defaulted and that they would be repaid by borrowers via Small Business Administration or other commercial loans. The complaint also alleges that, while some investor funds were used to make bridge loans, those loans did not perform as represented, and most loans ultimately defaulted and ceased making interest payments. Since at least 2021, First Liberty operated as a Ponzi scheme by using new investor funds to make principal and interest payments to existing investors, according to the complaint. The complaint further alleges that Frost misappropriated investor funds for personal use, including by using investor funds to make over $2.4 million in credit card payments, paying more than $335,000 to a rare coin dealer, and spending $230,000 on family vacations.
“The promise of a high rate of return on an investment is a red flag that should make all potential investors think twice or maybe even three times before investing their money,” said Justin C. Jeffries, Associate Director of Enforcement for the SEC’s Atlanta Regional Office. “Unfortunately, we’ve seen this movie before – bad actors luring investors with promises of seemingly over-generous returns – and it does not end well.”
The SEC’s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, charges First Liberty and Frost with violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws and names five entities that Frost controlled as relief defendants. The SEC seeks emergency relief, including an order freezing assets, appointing a receiver over the entities, and granting an accounting and expedited discovery. The SEC also seeks permanent injunctions and civil penalties against the defendants, a conduct-based injunction against Frost, and disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest against the defendants and relief defendants.
Without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint, the defendants and relief defendants consented to the SEC’s requested emergency and permanent relief, with monetary remedies to be determined by the court at a later date.
The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Justin Delfino and Tiffany Kunkle and supervised by Peter Diskin and Mr. Jeffries. The litigation is being led by Kristin Murnahan and Graham Loomis.
