KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Scott Gregory Campbell, 49, of Kissimmee, was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday, ending a decade-old investment scheme that fleeced a string of former "girlfriends" out of an estimated $1.5 million.
Osceola County Judge Jon Morgan heard testimony from six women Friday who were all investors or supporters of Campbell's plan to build a music empire he called BDO records (bank deposits only).
Each woman took the stand delivering the same argument that every investor would lose the chance to make money if Campbell were left behind bars.
Then Campbell addressed the court in a 25-minute high-energy plea for probation not prison. Handcuffed wearing an orange prison jump suit, he choked back tears as he delivered what seemed like a desperate sales pitch for a second chance.
"My name is Scott Campbell, not con artist, not fake producer," said Campbell. "I have a lot of people counting on me. I'm just asking please allow me to go back to work, so I can do the right thing."
Campbell proposed working while on probation to pay his investors back and said he may have managed the business poorly, but never took more than 12 percent a year from investors to run the company.
Judge Morgan calmly listened and when it was over he looked at Campbell with his attorney, Marc Dwyer, by his side, saying, "The evidence supports you are a thief and a con man."
Lucille Walker, of Tampa, was one of more than a dozen witnesses who testified against him. Walker, who was in court Friday, said she met Campbell on Match.com in January 2011. She gave him $30,000.
Walker said Campbell was convincing and made it seem as if he really cared about her.
"He would send me texts, he would send pictures of flowers, he did all the things a guy would do when he is interested in someone," said Walker.
Kim Serravalle lost $70,000 plus interest.
"He's a thief and he needs to go to jail," said Serravalle.
Assistant State Attorney Robert Finkbeiner was brilliant in his presentation of the facts and the trail of deception. Finkbeiner said Campbell used "make believe numbers" to convince his victims to hand over thousands of dollars.
Not everyone believes Campbell deserved 20 years behind bars.
"He is a good guy. That what he tries to do, he tries to go out and help people and promote them and make them be better people," said Christian Dawkins, who used to work for Campbell.
Marc Dwyer said he respects the judge, but believes Campbell will win an appeal. Dwyer said "I won't change anything" in the presentation of the facts.
"We knew this would be a sensitive case with sensitive issues, but we didn't agree with the verdict and still don't agree with it," said Dwyer.
Campbell has 30 days to file an appeal. He was fingerprinted and taken Friday night to the Osceola County Jail.
