A Portland man has been sentenced to federal prison for using a stolen identity and financial information to steal more than $426,000 from a victim with an intellectual disability.
Clinton Wells, 36, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $426,481.14 in restitution to his victim.
According to court documents, between March 2019 and April 2022, Wells knowingly and intentionally used personal identification and bank account information to steal the victim’s life savings. On March 13, 2019, while working for a national tax preparation company, Wells met the victim and gained access to their personal and financial information.
The following day, Wells began transferring money from the victim’s bank account into his own. In April 2019, Wells created a user profile through the victim’s online banking system. With this access, Wells completed more than 1,100 transactions including electronic money transfers and online purchases.
Wells used the money to fund extravagant trips, personal expenses and online purchases. Wells’ theft went undetected until the victim passed away and family found unopened bank statements showing the unauthorized transactions.
On February 13, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a six-count indictment charging Wells with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
On October 30, 2024, Wells pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Meredith D.M. Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Related Federal Cases
- Chae Sun Kim, ID Theft and Bank Fraud, Portland OR, 2016 · Idaho
- Jamie Faye Cobat, Wire Fraud and Theft, Oregon 2017 · Oregon
- Kimberly Aralene Wells, Drug Distribution and Conspiracy, Oregon, 2021 · North Carolina
- Ruoyu Duan, Trafficking and Financial Fraud, Oregon 2025 · Iowa
- Bernard Eugene McKinney II, Bank Check Fraud, AL 2024 · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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