Lenny Baldwin Jr., Witness Tampering, Virginia 2024

A man in Roanoke, Virginia has pleaded guilty to witness tampering after sending sexually charged text messages to a 16-year-old boy.

Lenny Baldwin Jr., 30, was a registered sex offender and on federal supervised release at the time of the incident. He was released from federal prison on May 10, 2023 and began a term of supervised release. In the summer of 2023, Baldwin befriended the 16-year-old boy, who was identified as MV1, while working at Dollar Tree in Roanoke.

Baldwin eventually spent time with MV1 and his mother at their Roanoke home. The two began exchanging sexually charged text messages in October 2023. Baldwin used an iPhone and the ‘unsend’ feature to unsend three of the messages, knowing that these communications violated the terms of his supervised release.

The following day, Baldwin, using a different phone number, texted MV1 and asked him to delete the messages. The two continued to exchange messages, with Baldwin again asking MV1 to delete the messages. This occurred on November 30, 2023 when Baldwin began texting MV1 using a different phone connected to a different phone number.

Baldwin did not notify his probation officer of the new phone or phone number. Throughout the text message conversations between Baldwin and MV1, Baldwin unsent multiple messages to conceal them from his probation officer, knowing they constituted a violation of the terms of his supervised release.

Lenny Baldwin Jr. faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of witness tampering. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the City of Roanoke Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff is prosecuting the case.

The case highlights the importance of monitoring and enforcing the terms of supervised release for registered sex offenders. It also serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of witness tampering and the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals, such as minors.

Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, made the announcement. The case is ongoing, and Baldwin’s sentencing date has not been set.

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