Three Oregon Men Face Federal Charges in Stolen Check and Bank Fraud Scheme
- Three Oregon men face federal charges following a Portland grand jury indictment alleging bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to...
- Attorney's Office, VanWinkle, Buckley, and Jones allegedly stole or obtained stolen checks and altered payee lines and dollar amounts.
- Jones previously entered a not-guilty plea during his September appearance.
Three Oregon men face federal charges following a Portland grand jury indictment alleging bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. A third defendant, Bruce Edward Jones Jr., 30, of Eugene, appeared in court earlier on September 24, 2026.
Indictment Details and Fraud Mechanics
According to court documents outlined by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, VanWinkle, Buckley, and Jones allegedly stole or obtained stolen checks and altered payee lines and dollar amounts. The alterations allowed the defendants to deposit the instruments into accounts they controlled rather than delivering them to the intended recipients. To facilitate the operation, VanWinkle and Buckley formed a sham business entity named Pacific Swift Logistics, court filings state. Federal prosecutors allege the three men recruited outside individuals to assist in the operation. These recruits deposited or transferred the forged checks into bank accounts controlled by VanWinkle, Buckley, or Jones. Once the funds landed, the defendants and their recruits withdrew, attempted to withdraw, or transferred the money via wire before financial institutions could identify the deposits as fraudulent and halt the transactions. Recruits who successfully received money reportedly kicked back a portion of the stolen funds to VanWinkle, Buckley, and Jones, according to the indictment.
Legal Proceedings and Scheduled Trial Date
Jones previously entered a not-guilty plea during his September appearance. All three defendants are scheduled to stand trial on November 24, 2026. The case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Sax. The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that an indictment represents only an accusation of a crime, and all defendants maintain a presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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