Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Fraud Scheme

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a scheme to steal large quantities of mail and use victims’ personal and financial documents and information to fraudulently obtain apartment leases, open bank accounts without authorization, and acquire other goods and services.

Cody Joel Stewart, 43, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. Stewart was also ordered to pay $211,831 in restitution to his victims.

According to court documents, between April 2020 and April 2023, Stewart worked with multiple accomplices, including Portland residents Felicia Lynn Hawkins and Patrick Dorin Balan, both 35, to carry out a fraud scheme whereby the group would steal large quantities of mail to obtain victims’ personal and financial information.

Throughout the conspiracy, Stewart and Hawkins used and distributed stolen personally identifiable information and counterfeit identity documents and checks. In December 2022, during a search of their shared residence, investigators located and seized various counterfeit identification and financial documents, stolen financial documents and mail, paper used to make counterfeit checks, U.S. Treasury checks, counterfeit U.S. currency, and drugs.

Stewart was arrested in May 2023 after leading police on a high-speed chase reaching speeds of more than 100 mph. After safely ending the pursuit, officers located additional stolen identification and financial documents in Stewart’s possession.

On April 11, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 12-count indictment charging Stewart, Hawkins, and Balan with conspiracy to commit bank fraud; bank fraud; using or trafficking an unauthorized access device; producing, using, or trafficking a counterfeit access device; aggravated identity theft; and possession of stolen mail.

On March 27, 2024, Stewart pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

On January 29, 2024, Hawkins also pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud. She was later sentenced to time served in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. Balan is on pre-trial release pending a four-day jury trial scheduled to begin on August 6, 2024.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). It was prosecuted by Rachel K. Sowray, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.