A Farmville woman pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in a scheme where she created a fake company and cashed a stolen check for nearly half a million dollars.
Pia Lawson, 51, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 18, 2025, and faces up to 30 years in prison.
According to court documents, on Sept. 21, 2021, a North Carolina business issued a check for $468,477.13 to a subcontractor, Summit Solutionz, Inc., made payable to “Solutionz” and placed the check in the mail.
At some point between Sept. 21 and Sept. 27, 2021, members of the conspiracy stole the check.
On Sept. 27, a member of the conspiracy incorporated “The Solutionz GA, Inc.” in Georgia. Lawson was named the CEO and CFO of Solutionz GA.
On Sept. 28, Lawson opened a business checking account for Solutionz GA and certified that she was the chief executive officer and a beneficial owner of Solutionz GA.
On Sept. 30, Lawson deposited the $468,477.13 check into the Solutionz GA account.
Through a series of financial transactions and transfers, Lawson depleted the fraudulently obtained funds between October and November of 2021, including, for example, the transfer of $65,000 to her personal checking account.
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Crystal Graham
