Panama City Beach Scam Unveiled: Couple Charged in Sweepstakes Fraud Scheme

BAY COUNTY, FL - On February 3, 2025, the Bay County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division began assisting the United States Postal Service (USPS) in an investigation into the suspected scam. A USPS Inspector had discovered that the victim had mailed multiple packages via USPS delivery to an apartment on Panama City Beach between November 2024 and February 2025. When interviewed, the victim stated she had been contacted in November of 2024. She was told she had won a sweepstakes, and the prizes were a vehicle and a large sum of money. The scammer continued calling the victim and convinced her to mail packages to an address on Panama City Beach and to place various forms of payment in the packages to collect her prizes. These forms of payment were cash, money orders, and gift cards. The victim did as she was told and mailed the packages to the address provided.

The investigation led to an apartment on Walosi Way, Panama City Beach. The two suspects were identified as Brandon Maxwell, age 23, and Bethany Campbell, age 18. They were interviewed and found to have been in communication with the victim by phone and the ones receiving the packages from the victim since November 2024. Maxwell and Campbell were also receiving the funds the victim had been putting in the packages. The investigation continues to determine the exact amount of cash the victim lost in this scam.

Maxwell and Campbell were charged with Committing an Ongoing Scheme to Defraud and they were booked into the Bay County Jail. Campbell was found to be from Jamaica, but with lawful permanent residency status. Maxwell was found to be from Jamaica but in the United States illegally. ICE has been notified, and a hold will be placed on Maxwell for deportation after this charge has been settled.