Farmville woman pleads guilty in scheme to set up fake company, bank account to cash $468K stolen check

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Farmville woman has pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in connection to her role in a conspiracy to set up a fake company and associated bank account to cash a stolen check for nearly half a million dollars. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), 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. The DOJ said at some point between Sept. 21, 2021 and Sept. 27, 2021, members of the conspiracy stole the check. On Sept. 27, 2021, a member of the conspiracy reportedly incorporated "The Solutionz GA, Inc." in Georgia, and 51-year-old Pia Lawson was named the CEO and CFO of Solutionz GA. According to the DOJ, Lawson opened a business checking account for Solutionz GA and certified that she was the CEO and a beneficial owner of the company on Sept. 28, 2021. On Sept. 30, 2021, Lawson deposited the $468,477.13 check into the Solutionz GA account, according to officials. The DOJ said through a series of financial transactions and transfers, Lawson depleted the fraudulently obtained funds between October and November 2021, including the transfer of $65,000 to her personal checking account. According to the DOJ, Lawson is scheduled to be sentenced on March 18, 2025, and faces up to 30 years in prison.