Former Baltimore Freemasons treasurer pleads guilty to embezzling more than $750,000

The former treasurer of a Baltimore Freemasons lodge was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $750,000 during a five-year period.

Carroll Martin, who previously served as treasurer for the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland, pleaded guilty to felony theft in January for embezzling $751,247.44 from the fraternal organization, according to the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office.

The state’s attorney’s economic crimes unit and Baltimore Police Department began a nine-month investigation of Martin in October 2017.

An audit found Martin endorsed 377 of the fraternity’s checks to himself “for reimbursement,” according to the state’s attorney’s office. There was no evidence he needed to be reimbursed for those expenses, the state’s attorney’s office said.

“The defendant abused his position of trust for personal financial gain,” Baltimore state’s attorney Marilyn Mosby said in a statement. “Thanks to the fine investigative and prosecutorial work by ECU and BPD, Mr. Martin is being held accountable for his actions.”

Martin’s attorney, Kurt Nachtman, could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday morning.