Easton Man Headed to Court on Money Laundering Charges

An Easton man who police say collected welfare payments while also selling heroin is headed to county court.

Michael Shawn Dixon, 35, of West Berwick Street, with "dealing with proceeds of an unlawful activity," which is basically means money laundering.

Dixon waived those charges Wednesday in a hearing before District Judge Gay Elwell in Easton, which means his case moves on to Northampton County Court.

According to court records, Dixon set up a series of bank accounts to hide the money he made from selling heroin, all while telling the state Department of Public Welfare he had no source of income, and thus collecting welfare. Court records say he deposited more than $63,000 into his accounts between July 2009 and September 2010.

Dixon had been in jail since last September, when he was arrested for allegedly selling thousands of dollars worth of heroin to a police source in a series of "controlled buys."