North Carolina Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Money Laundering

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Justin Isiah Hawkins, 35, and Emmanuel Lee Baldwin, 35, both of Gastonia, North Carolina have been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for a money laundering conspiracy involving theft from the United States Treasury.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Hawkins and Baldwin conspired with each other to fraudulently alter a legitimate U.S. Treasury check intended for a business based in New Hampshire. Hawkins and Baldwin altered the $191,456.30 check by making it payable to Baldwin. Baldwin previously opened a bank account in Rock Hill using a forged check from another institution. The pair deposited the Treasury check into Baldwin’s account and then laundered the money by sending it to a New York-based LLC controlled by Hawkins. The pair used the money for personal expenses, including a vehicle Baldwin purchased with the stolen funds. 

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Hawkins to 37 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  Judge Lydon sentenced Baldwin to 41 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Although a potential fine was waived, they were ordered to pay $194,075.01 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury and Bank of America. Hawkins and Baldwin are joint and severally liable for the restitution.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Rock Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case.

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