By MOFreePress
MOFreePress has uncovered substantial documentation related to fraud allegations involving Erica Baldwin and Nudles on the Growl—evidence that raises questions about how the case originated, who may be responsible, and whether key claims align with available data.
The allegations center on two separate coffee purchases made at Scooter’s Coffee using credit card information allegedly obtained at Baldwin’s workplace. Baldwin was picked up for questioning by law enforcement on January 8, 2026, in connection with the matter. No formal conviction has occurred.
According to records reviewed by MOFreePress, the accused and the alleged victim shared a personal relationship. Text messages between the two, obtained during the investigation, show the alleged victim stating she used Baldwin’s Scooter’s account to make the purchases on the day in question, and expressing regret over the situation. In the same message thread, the alleged victim places blame on a former employee of Nudles on the Growl.
Location data further complicates the allegations. Life360 GPS records reviewed by MOFreePress indicate Baldwin was not present at Scooter’s Coffee during either of the transactions in question.
MOFreePress also obtained a verified email written by the alleged victim, who used the name Salina Ford, an alias the individual has also used publicly on social media. In the email, Ford claims the fraud allegations were part of a coordinated “frame job” organized by a former Nudles on the Growl employee, Ashley Kenney, and her husband, Lincoln County Deputy Joe Kenney. The email appears emotionally charged and has been subjected to AI-assisted authorship analysis, which indicated with greater than 90 percent confidence that the message was authentically written by the alleged victim.
MOFreePress makes no determination as to the truth of the claims made in the email. However, several assertions contained within it—including subsequent child removal proceedings involving Baldwin—have occurred after the email was written.
When MOFreePress attempted to contact the alleged victim for comment, she declined to speak. Instead, a third party contacted MOFreePress by phone and stated, “I’ll be at your house tomorrow.” A skip trace of the caller’s number shows it belongs to an Old Monroe Police Officer, Ryan Raymond Armistead, not assigned to the case. That individual is also named in Ford’s email as having falsified reports.
The email further alleges that Deputy Joe Kenney intended to pursue additional charges against Baldwin by planting narcotics. MOFreePress cannot verify this claim and presents it solely as an allegation made by the email’s author. No independent evidence has been found to substantiate that assertion.
MOFreePress reached out to Deputy Joe Kenney for comment regarding discrepancies uncovered during the investigation. As of publication, no response has been received.
Nudles on the Growl did respond to MOFreePress’ request for comment and maintained its innocence, denying any involvement in fraudulent activity or wrongdoing related to the allegations.
This investigation remains ongoing. MOFreePress will continue to report only verifiable facts as additional records, statements, or court filings become available.
