CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Reidsville, North Carolina, man was sentenced to prison today for his role in a bank fraud scheme that defrauded at least 10 identity theft victims of more than $650,000, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Jacob Lawson, 33, was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $656,781.46 as restitution. His co-conspirator, Cordara Mattox, 39, of Stallings, North Carolina, was previously sentenced to 30 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $656,781.46 in restitution. Both Lawson and Mattox pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Mattox also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and aiding and abetting.
According to court records, from July 2021 to April 2025, Lawson conspired with Mattox and others to execute a conspiracy that defrauded financial institutions and at least 10 identity theft victims. As part of the conspiracy, the defendants obtained personal identifying information (PII) and banking information of identity theft victims located in Western District of North Carolina and elsewhere. Mattox then contacted financial institutions impersonating the identity theft victims and requested replacement debit and credit cards. Once they obtained the replacement cards, the defendants used them to conduct transactions at retail stores totaling more than $650,000.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric A. Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Western District of North Carolina — U.S. Department of Justice press release.