A Portland man has been sentenced to federal prison for bank fraud and identity theft. Clinton Wells, aged 36, received a sentence of 36 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. He is also required to pay restitution amounting to $426,481.14 to his victim.
Court documents reveal that between March 2019 and April 2022, Wells used personal identification and bank account information to steal the life savings of a victim with an intellectual disability. The fraudulent activities began on March 13, 2019, when Wells met the victim while working for a national tax preparation company and gained access to their financial details. The next day, he started transferring funds from the victim's bank account into his own.
In April 2019, Wells further exploited the situation by creating a user profile through the victim's online banking system. This allowed him to conduct over 1,100 transactions including electronic money transfers and online purchases. The stolen funds were used for extravagant trips and personal expenses. The unauthorized transactions remained undetected until after the victim's death when family members discovered unopened bank statements.
A federal grand jury in Portland indicted Wells on February 13, 2024, on six counts of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. He pleaded guilty on October 30, 2024, to one count each of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The investigation was carried out by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith D.M. Bateman prosecuted the case for the District of Oregon.