A Florida woman wanted in Houston for an online scam in which she allegedly pretended to be the family of a Camp Mystic flooding victim has been arrested by the U.S. Marshal Service, Harris County Constable Precinct One Alan Rosen announced Friday.
Maitlin Paige White, 28, was taken into custody in Okaloosa County, Fla., by a U.S. Marshal Service task force following a request for assistance from Harris County investigators.
She now faces extradition from the Sunshine State back to the Lone Star State to face charges of online impersonation.
White was charged on Jan. 2 with two felonies for the scheme, which targeted the community following the devastating Independence Day floods in Kerr County.
“It is inexcusable how she sought to prey on the emotions of our community and abused the family of Chloe Childress who have endured an unimaginable tragedy,” Constable Rosen said regarding the arrest. “We are grateful for the quick assistance and unwavering partnership of the U.S. Marshal Service.”
FIRST REPORT: Florida woman wanted in connection to fake GoFundMe impersonating Hill Country flood victim’s family
Investigators say White attempted to capitalize on the death of 18-year-old Chloe Childress, a Houston resident and Kincaid School graduate who was serving as a counselor at Camp Mystic when she was tragically killed in the flooding in July 2025.
Just four days after the floods, fraudulent campaigns appeared on fundraising sites GoFundMe and Spotfund (SpotMe), using Childress’ name and photo to solicit donations.
Investigators discovered that White used her own phone number, email address, and bank routing number to set up the accounts. When reached by phone during the initial investigation, White allegedly admitted to linking her personal bank account to the campaigns, telling investigators she was a single mother of two “looking for a quick way to make some money.”
“This was a very, very dumb, stupid, unconscionable thing to do to a family that already was suffering so greatly,” Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said.
Childress, 18, graduated from Houston’s Kincaid School and served as a counselor at Camp Mystic when flooding along the Guadalupe River killed her and more than 100 others.
The fraudulent campaigns were created July 8, just four days after the floods.
“The defendant’s conduct is despicable, and she should be considered a danger to the community,” prosecutors wrote in a document requesting a bond.
When reached by phone, White allegedly provided specific details that only someone involved in the commission of the offense would know, according to records.
White allegedly told Pct. 1 she is a single mother of two young children and was “looking for a quick way to make some money.”
She also allegedly admitted to linking her bank account to the fraudulent campaigns so the donations would go directly to her bank account.
“She really didn’t make any money off of it, thank God, but to have something as tragic as what went on and to try to scam off of it is just something that none of us as a society can deal with,” Rosen said.
Court records show White has criminal history in Florida for theft-related offenses, and she appears to have a pending felony domestic violence case.
Rosen said he will ensure she is brought to Texas to face justice.
If anyone has information on White’s whereabouts, call the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office at 713-755-5200.
GoFundMe sent KPRC 2 the following statement:
“GoFundMe has zero tolerance for the misuse of our platform and bad actors who seek to take advantage of the generosity of others. Our team acted quickly to remove the fundraiser back in July, refund donors, and ban the account from future fundraising on GoFundMe. Thanks to our Trust & Safety procedures, at no point did the organizer have access to the total $5 raised.”