Log in

These columns list arrests and not convictions, unless otherwise stated. Anyone listed here who is later found not guilty or has had the charges against them dropped is welcome to inform this newspaper. The information will be confirmed and printed.

ERISA

Indictment alleges Scottsdale CEO embezzled $2.4 million in employee benefits

An indictment unsealed Friday charges a Scottsdale man with embezzling more than $2.4 million from an Employee Retirement Income Security Act benefit plan and money laundering offenses.

James Vincent Campbell, 47, is CEO and founder of Axim Fringe Solutions Group, LLC, a company that processes employee benefits for employees of federal contractors, according to court documents. At the time of the alleged thefts, the company was headquartered in Maryland, where the indictment was unsealed Aug. 15.

The indictment alleges Axim’s clients sent funds to the company to pay for health insurance premiums and 401(k) retirement contributions. Axim was responsible for forwarding those funds to insurance carriers and retirement accounts, charging clients a contractual fee of $40 per employee per month for its services.

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $1 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor
ERISA

Indictment alleges Scottsdale CEO embezzled $2.4 million in employee benefits

Posted

An indictment unsealed Friday charges a Scottsdale man with embezzling more than $2.4 million from an Employee Retirement Income Security Act benefit plan and money laundering offenses.

James Vincent Campbell, 47, is CEO and founder of Axim Fringe Solutions Group, LLC, a company that processes employee benefits for employees of federal contractors, according to court documents. At the time of the alleged thefts, the company was headquartered in Maryland, where the indictment was unsealed Aug. 15.

The indictment alleges Axim’s clients sent funds to the company to pay for health insurance premiums and 401(k) retirement contributions. Axim was responsible for forwarding those funds to insurance carriers and retirement accounts, charging clients a contractual fee of $40 per employee per month for its services.

“Before forwarding the funds, Campbell allegedly pooled them in a master trust account. Between 2015 and 2024, he made 135 unauthorized withdrawals – totaling $2,486,905 – beyond the legitimate fees owed to Axim,” a release from the U.S. Department of Justice stated.

Campbell used a “significant portion” of the funds for personal expenses, including big game hunting trips in Alaska, Africa and other locations, taxidermy fees, jewelry, casino gambling and direct payments to his girlfriend.

The indictment charges Campbell with a single count of theft from an ERISA plan and 11 counts of money laundering.

If convicted, Campbell faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering and up to five years for theft from an ERISA plan.

We would like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.

Share with others


Have an opinion on this story? Click here to send a letter to our editors.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here