PANAMA CITY — Authorities have arrested two New York City residents who claimed to be recording artists who allegedly bilked a local catering company out of several thousand dollars in refreshments, officials announced Thursday.
Bay County Sheriff’s officials said from Sept. 26 through October, a group of individuals claiming to be recording artists from “The Black Billionaires Incorporated” stayed at a motel on 15th Street in Panama City and used a local catering business several times. They left Bay County without paying the more than $3,000 bill for the catering and went to Escambia County. While in Escambia County, two of the individuals in the group were arrested.
Walker Washington, aka Shamel Shakeem, 48, and Adonijah Keturah Niles, aka Sharon Williams, 20, both of New York City, were placed in the Escambia County Jail on outstanding warrants. Washington was picked up on a federal warrant and Niles on a warrant out of Bay County for grand theft involving the unpaid debt to the catering business.
Investigators believe this group of individuals may have defrauded other businesses in Bay County.
BCSO encouraged other victims to contact local law enforcement or the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at 747-4700 to file a complaint.