Charlotte-area church fell victim to alleged fraudulent investment scheme, U.S. Attorney says

Published

2 years ago

October 20, 2021

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Local Charlotte News — A Virginia man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in North Carolina for allegedly fraudulently soliciting investments from a Charlotte-area church and its members, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York announced Wednesday.

Michael Baldwin, 52, the former CEO of Miracle Maison, is accused of fraudulently soliciting investments from a Charlotte-area church and its members over the course of an 11-year period. He is accused of the same acts on other individuals and entities located in Virginia, Arkansas, Charlotte, and Georgia.

Baldwin is accused of distributing promotional material regarding a ‘one-of-a-kind’ entertainment complex in the Washington metropolitan area, according to federal documents.

Documents also say he falsely represented potential investors such as the Kennedy Center, and high-level executives at Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A had endorsed the project.

Baldwin faces multiple charges including wire fraud and securities fraud. The scheme defrauded victims of more than $740,000, according to the documents. The name of the Charlotte church has not been disclosed.

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The FBI and U.S. Secret Service were among the agencies involved in the investigation.

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