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Panama City Beach Today
By the People, for the People
Visit PCB completes internal investigation into $1M fraud
Two former employees accused of stealing from tourism agency
Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:22am
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A recent internal investigation uncovered a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme at the heart of Panama City Beach's tourism agency.Panama City Beach TodayVisit Panama City Beach has completed an internal investigation into the alleged theft of more than $1 million by two former employees. The report confirms details already uncovered by the Bay County Sheriff's Office, accusing Aaron Bates and Heather Holtzclaw of fraud and misappropriation of funds from the tourism agency.
Why it matters
The alleged fraud at Visit PCB, the main tourism marketing organization for the popular Florida beach destination, has raised concerns about financial oversight and controls at similar local government-affiliated agencies that promote tourism. The case also highlights the need for robust internal auditing and transparency measures to prevent such incidents.
The details
According to the internal investigation, Bates and Holtzclaw, who previously worked at Visit PCB, are accused of fraudulently obtaining funds through unauthorized credit card purchases, fake invoices, and other means. The report confirms the scale of the alleged theft at over $1 million.
- The internal investigation was completed in April 2026.
- Bates and Holtzclaw were arrested earlier in 2026 on fraud charges.
The players
Visit Panama City Beach
The main tourism marketing organization for the Panama City Beach area in Florida.
Aaron Bates
A former employee of Visit PCB accused of fraud and misappropriation of funds.
Heather Holtzclaw
A former employee of Visit PCB accused of fraud and misappropriation of funds.
Bay County Sheriff's Office
The law enforcement agency that investigated the alleged fraud at Visit PCB.
What’s next
The Bay County Sheriff's Office and local prosecutors will continue their criminal investigation and prosecution of Bates and Holtzclaw.
The takeaway
This case highlights the importance of strong financial controls, auditing, and transparency measures at government-affiliated tourism agencies to prevent fraud and misuse of public funds.
