Portland man sentenced for fraud scheme after 100 mph Oregon City police chase
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A Portland man who led Oregon City police on a high-speed chase was sentenced to federal prison on Wednesday for his role in a "large-scale" fraud scheme, authorities announced.
Cody Stewart, 43, was sentenced to just over four years in prison with five years' supervised release and ordered to pay more than $200,000 in restitution to his victims.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Stewart worked with two accomplices -- identified as Felicia Hawkins and Patrick Balan -- who stole large quantities of mail to obtain their victims' personal information between April 2020 and April 2023.
Authorities said that information was used to open unauthorized bank accounts and apartment leases.
Around 3 p.m. May 22, 2023, Oregon City police saw Stewart drive a Mercedes sedan over a curb near Meyers Road before speeding away from the police car -- sparking a police chase with Stewart reaching speeds over 100 miles per hour.
After officers stopped his car with a PIT maneuver on Highway 212, police said Stewart refused arrest and put unknown pills in his mouth.
Officials said Stewart ended up surrendering to police after officers used a 40-millimeter less lethal projectile to break the driver's side window.
During his arrest, police discovered Stewart had warrants for his arrest related to a large-scale bank fraud and identity theft investigation led by the Department of Homeland Security.
Because he swallowed unknown pills, Stewart was taken to a local hospital and authorities said they later found mail and bank cards belonging to others in the sedan.
During a search of his home, investigators found drugs, counterfeit identification and financial documents, stolen mail, and paper to make counterfeit checks and cash.
In April of 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.
Stewart pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in March.
In January, Hawkins pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud and was later sentenced to federal prison with five years’ supervised release.
Balan is on pre-trial release pending a four-day jury trial set to begin Aug. 6.