Well, if you’re into wild rides through the savannas of Africa, the Alaskan tundra, and the grimy underbelly of corporate fraud, this Wednesday feature might be tailor made for you. As part of an incredible corporate scandal, James Vincent Campbell, a 47-year-old Scottsdale CEO, is now staring down the barrel of a federal indictment for allegedly siphoning upwards of $2.4 million from his company’s employee benefit plans to bankroll Instagram-worthy big game safaris that’d make even Papa jealous.
Just like any good story littered with corporate kleptocracy, this scandal’s got it all: greed, guns, and a guy who thought he could outrun the feds while jet-setting around the world (probably) chasing lions. And while he might’ve bagged a few trophies along the way, it's now safe to say that he’s the one being hunted.
Campbell ran Axim Fringe Solutions Group, a Scottsdale outfit that processes health insurance premiums and 401(k) contributions for federal contractor employees. While on the surface, the business might seem like a snooze-fest, prosecutors say Campbell transformed the company into something of a personal ATM, pooling client funds into a master trust account while he skimmed off a cool $2,486,905 through 135 unauthorized withdrawals between 2015 to 2024. As it would turn out, that obscene amount ended up being a far cry from the $40-per-employee fee Axim was supposed to collect.
So, where’d the all the cash go? Straight to the kind of high-octane hunting trips that make your average deer drive look like a Sunday walk in the park.
What sets this embezzlement scheme apart, particularly for the hunting aficionado, is how much of the stolen money reportedly went toward Campbell's pursuit of big game. Prosecutors claim he used a "significant portion" of the funds for exotic hunting trips to Alaska, Africa, and other undisclosed locations, immersing himself in the thrill of tracking and harvesting some of the world's most challenging and prestigious trophies.
The (good?? 🤷) news is that the cash didn’t all go to ammo and antlers. Campbell’s also accused of blowing chunks of it on jewelry, casino benders, and wiring money straight to his girlfriend. While these expenses underscore the breadth of the alleged misuse, they pale in comparison to the hunting-related outlays. The total embezzlement amount points at multiple high-end trips, potentially spanning years and accumulating costs that align with the premium end of the hunting industry. Yes, this scumbag was most definitely living large while his workers’ 401(k)s and health plans were getting, well, gutted.
As anyone can imagine, Campbell is now up against some serious repercussions. Indicted on August 15th, in a Maryland federal court - where Axim was once headquartered - he pleaded not guilty to one count of theft from an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plan and 11 counts of money laundering. If convicted, he could end up with 10 years in prison for each money laundering charge and five years for the theft.
This unfortunately isn’t Campbell’s first rodeo, either. The Department of Labor previously nailed him, Axim, and their compliance officer Melissa McManes for misusing $5 million in fringe benefits just last year. A 2024 court ruling forced them to cough up $4.4 million to make employees whole and pay an additional $100,000 for an independent fiduciary.
Considering this guy was already on thin ice, it’s very much looking like he’s skating his way straight into a federal penitentiary this time around.
