BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WDNews) — Two suspects were arrested in Bay County, Florida, in connection to a fraud case, according to Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. The pair allegedly took money from an elderly victim living out of state.
On Feb. 3, 2025, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division began working with the United States Postal Service in an investigation into the suspected scam. A USPS employee discovered that between November 2024 and February 2025, the victim had mailed multiple packages to an apartment in Panama City Beach. When interviewed, the victim said she was told she had won a sweepstakes and would receive a vehicle and money. The scammers convinced her to place different payments, including cash, money orders, and gift cards, in the packages to claim her prizes.
The investigation led to an apartment on Walosi Way in Panama City Beach, where the two suspects were identified as Brandon Maxwell, 23, and Bethany Campbell, 18. Maxwell and Campbell were arrested and charged with participating in an ongoing scheme to defraud. They are being held at the Bay County Jail. Campbell, a Jamaican national, holds lawful permanent residency in the U.S., while Maxwell, also from Jamaica, is in the country illegally. ICE has been informed, and a hold will be placed on Maxwell for deportation once the charges are resolved.
This is an ongoing investigation, and the exact amount of money the victim lost is still being determined.
