Florida woman sentenced to three years in prison for pretending to be the family of a teenager killed in the Texas floods to create fake GoFundMe and SpotFund pages | World News

Fake GoFundMe and SpotFund pages created after the 2025 Texas floods have ended in a three-year prison sentence for Maitlin White, a 29-year-old from Crestview, Florida, who pleaded guilty to two counts of online impersonation in Harris County, Texas. White pretended to be the father of Chloe Childress, a 19-year-old from Houston who died in Kerr County while working as a counsellor at Camp Mystic. The pages used the father’s name, Chloe’s photograph and an account of the family’s loss to appeal for donations, according to court records. Both appeared less than a week after the floods struck Central Texas.

How a father’s alert led detectives to two fake fundraising pages in his daughter’s name

FOX 26 Houston reported that Childress’s father alerted authorities to the fake GoFundMe campaign. A detective then learned of a second campaign on SpotFund that also used the names of Chloe and her father. Records requested from both platforms listed White as the creator of each page, according to the court documents. The SpotFund campaign was linked to her Chime checking account. Records did not show how much money either campaign raised.

What the woman told a detective after admitting she made both pages for quick money

According to FOX 26 Houston, the documents say the detective found White’s phone number and recorded a call with her. She admitted making the campaigns using Chloe’s likeness and her father’s name, and described herself as a single mother with young children looking for a quick way to earn. Court records also state that she is a single mother of two and that she set up the fake page using her mobile phone.

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Plea deal accepted on a Friday morning, with 111 days of credit for time served and a GoFundMe ban

Court records show White accepted the plea deal on a Friday morning and will receive 111 days of credit for time already served. GoFundMe has banned her account from future fundraising on the platform.Harris County Constable Precinct One Alan Rosen, who confirmed the sentence, said in a statement published by KPRC that White preyed on the emotions of the community and abused a family already enduring an unimaginable tragedy. He called her conduct inexcusable and said the case should serve as a warning to anyone planning similar schemes. He added that a family devastated by the loss of their daughter did not need someone profiting from her name.

How to check a donation page is genuine before giving money to flood victims’ families

Rosen urged people who want to help flood victims to do some homework and vet the source before giving, even though the urge to donate quickly is strong. The Texas Attorney General’s Office issued an alert on the same Friday telling Texans to avoid wire transfers and to avoid confirming personal or financial information, so that support reaches legitimate organisations. The warnings come as floodwaters are rising again in the same region one year on, KPRC reported.