CHARLOTTE — A 33-year-old Rockingham County man was sentenced Tuesday to 15 months in federal prison for his role in a bank fraud scheme that defrauded at least 10 identity theft victims of more than $650,000.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina announced the sentencing of Jacob Lawson, of Reidsville, in federal court. Investigators said the conspiracy operated from July 2021 to April 2025 across the region.
In addition to his prison term, Lawson was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $656,781.46 in restitution. He previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
His co-conspirator, 39-year-old Cordara Mattox of Stallings, was previously sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Mattox was also ordered to pay $656,781 in restitution after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and aiding and abetting.
According to court records, the defendants obtained personal identifying information and banking details belonging to victims in the Western District of North Carolina and other areas. Mattox contacted financial institutions impersonating the victims to request replacement debit and credit cards, which were then used to make retail store purchases totaling more than $650,000.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation.