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.

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