By CAROL KENT
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This story has been edited to include new information gleaned from the fulfilment of an additional public records request by The Advertiser for contents taken from the computer seized by FDFS.
Details are slowly emerging in an investigation led by the Florida Department of Financial Services (FDFS) into criminal activity that allegedly took place at the Holmes County Board of County Commissioners (HCBOCC) office.
The FDFS Criminal Investigations Division executed a search warrant at the county office Friday, March 28, to seize items associated with the alleged crimes, which the search warrant cites as falling under Florida statutes governing “bail bond agent prohibitions”, “licensure and appointment required”, and “furnishing supplies to unlicensed persons”.
The search warrant specifically stated investigators were looking to seize a black computer identified as HCBOCC property number 3821 – an item The Advertiser confirmed through a public records request was previously used by former BOCC administrative assistant Whitney Milburn.
Milburn officially resigned from her position March 25, citing an “ongoing hostile work environment.”
Milburn could not be reached for comment; however, a public records request yielded a copy of her resignation letter, which alleged unethical behavior by Commissioner Clint Erickson and Commissioner Brandon Newsom, the latter of whom is a licensed bail bond agent and owns Bail Bonds by Brandon Newsom.
“Over time, the situation at work has become increasingly unbearable and despite voicing my concerns, the environment has not improved,” wrote Milburn in the resignation letter. “The unprofessional behavior exhibited by Commissioner Newsom and Commissioner Erickson have not only impacted my ability to perform my duties, but also my emotional and mental wellbeing, as it is not aligned with my understanding of correct and ethical business practices required of a county government.”
Milburn did not elaborate on her allegations, instead ending her letter by saying she was committed to ensuring a smooth transition and would assist in “any way necessary with the exception of working directly [with] Commissioner Newsom or Commissioner Erickson.”
“Our current relationship is strained due to false accusations and my inability to trust their actions toward me,” she wrote in closing.
In addition to Milburn’s computer, the search warrant also cited probable cause to seize all software, hardware, passwords, and other elements associated with the computer, stating the items were being kept, used, obtained in, or is evidence of a “felony violation of the laws of the State of Florida.”
Erickson states he is unclear of any allegations toward him, or issues Milburn may have had with him.
“There were never any reports filed with her direct supervisor regarding me, but I do wish her the best of luck with her future endeavors,” said Erickson.
While there has not yet been an official elaboration on either Milburn’s allegations toward the commissioners or the exact nature of the state’s investigation, the issue appears to be centered around the contents of the computer seized by FDFS.
A written statement by Modern Tech Squad – the county’s tech support vendor – says its staff responded to the county twice in just four days to two separate public records request related to the computer listed in the search warrant.
Watkins states the first request was made by Commissioner Newsom himself regarding contents of the computer utilized by the HCBOCC administrative staff.
“My company, Modern Tech Squad, was called in on Thursday, March 20, 2025, for a public records request to back up any documents having to deal with Commissioner Brandon Newsom,” wrote the tech company’s owner, Matt Watkins. “I backed up all the files from the computer and put them on a flash drive that was provided by Brandon Newsom. Once the files were backed up, I handed it to him, and I left.”
The information on the flash drive had not been reviewed or redacted prior to being turned over to Newsom; however, County Attorney Nate Nolin states the records have since been reviewed, and he found no need for redaction of what Newsom received.
The Advertiser requested a copy of those same records, and upon reviewing the flash drive provided by the BOCC, located blank court forms relating to various bond agent motions, most of which were pre-filled for use in the 14th Judicial Circuit, including in Holmes, Walton, and Washington counties – all counties in which Bail Bonds by Brandon Newsom actively bonds clients out of jail. One form was not blank, however, and was filled out to make a motion related to a specific named individual, one who is confirmed to have been bailed out of the Walton County Jail by Brandon Newsom Bail Bonds in April 2021.
The second request was made by Milburn, who Watkins states requested video footage of the tech company’s employees and Newsom during the execution of Newsom’s public records request just days earlier.
Watkins explained both in his statement and in a subsequent phone call with The Advertiser that he was called in to fulfil Milburn’s request for the footage on March 24 but found that the Network Video Recorder (NVR) was not recording.
“[The NVR] had not been recording since March 14, 2025,” stated Watkins. “I made this known and advised that we needed to upgrade the system as it is older and not much life left to it.”
Commissioner Newsom has thus far declined to respond to numerous requests by The Advertiser for comment; however, this story will be updated should Newsom respond.
This is a developing story and will also be updated as more details are released.
Meanwhile, here is a look at the Florida Statutes cited in the executed search warrant:
648.44(2): Florida Statutes prohibit bail bond agents from countersigning or signing in blank a bond, or providing authority or power of attorney to anyone to countersign their name to a bond unless that person is a licensed and appointed bond agent employed directly by the agent giving that authority.
648.30(1): Under the title “Insurance — Bail Bond Agents,” this states that licensure and appointment are required for individuals acting as bail bond agents.
648.441: This statute prohibits insurers, managing general agents, bail bond agents, and temporary bail bond agents from furnishing supplies like blank forms, applications, stationery, and business cards to unlicensed bail bond agents until they are licensed and appointed.
Staff Report 