PORTLAND, Ore. — An identity thief who likes to rhyme will go to prison for his crime.
A judge Wednesday sentenced Stephen Rowell to 13 years in prison, perhaps the longest term ever given to an ID thief in Multnomah County. In seeking a long sentence, prosecutor Kevin Demer pointed to the pride Rowell takes in his work.
While in the county jail, Rowell, 28, signed letters as the “The Mailman.” And then there’s the folder full of songs penned by Rowell discovered during the investigation. His lyrics celebrate the life of an ID thief.
“Here’s a hustle you may recognize from before/Shhh, be quiet, while I creep to this front door,” Rowell wrote in one song. “Credit card and checks, you never know what mail you’ll get/If you find the right sh—, you’ll leave your victim in debt.”
Police arrested Rowell in 2007. During a search of his car, they found check-making software and blank checks. In searches of Rowell and his home, police found the song lyrics, fabricated checks, roughly 50 credit cards, the financial paperwork of more than 100 people and a database containing all the driver’s licenses in the state.
He also had information about a company that allows a caller to deceive the person on the receiving end by manipulating caller ID.
Bryan DeClercque, a Portland police fraud investigator, told The Oregonian newspaper he was even more motivated to pursue Rowell once he read Rowell describe destroying lives as “fun.”
In one song, Rowell wrote: “You know how we do it we make our money and run/If we ruiend (sic) your life just know we had fun.”
In seeking a 20-year sentence, Demer told Judge Jerry Hodson that Rowell would never change.
The judge, however, said a 20-year sentence wouldn’t be just because it was so much more than other ID thieves get. But the judge said Rowell should serve 13 years, in part, because of his lack of remorse.
Rowell declined to speak — or sing — to the judge.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
