Fugitive Who Lived Under Dead Man’s Identity for More Than Four Decades Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud and Firearms Charges

A longtime fugitive who spent more than forty years living under the stolen identity of a deceased Arkansas man has pleaded guilty to multiple federal offenses involving identity theft, passport fraud, fraudulent government benefits, and unlawful firearm possession.

Federal prosecutors in the District of New Mexico announced that Stephen Craig Campbell, 73, admitted to using the identity of Walter Lee Coffman, an Arkansas man who died in 1975 at the age of 22 shortly after graduating from the University of Arkansas with an engineering degree.

According to federal court records, Campbell assumed Coffman’s identity during the early 1980s while allegedly fleeing prosecution tied to an attempted murder case originating in Wyoming.

Investigators stated Campbell first applied for a United States passport using Coffman’s identity in 1984 and continued renewing the fraudulent passport for decades while using his own photograph and updated residential information. Federal authorities stated Campbell later obtained a replacement Social Security card in Coffman’s name in 1995 and used the stolen identity to build an entirely separate life under the dead man’s records.

Court records show Campbell eventually purchased property in Weed, New Mexico, under the Coffman identity around 2003 and continued renewing the fraudulent passport in 2005 and 2015.

Federal investigators stated Campbell continued actively using the false identity as recently as September 4, 2019, when he allegedly presented the fraudulent passport to a New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division employee in Cloudcroft to renew a New Mexico driver’s license under the Coffman identity.

Authorities stated Campbell remained in possession of the fraudulent passport until federal agents seized it during a February 19, 2025 search operation at his residence in Weed, New Mexico.

Federal prosecutors also stated Campbell admitted to possessing a Social Security card not lawfully issued to him with the intent to defraud the United States government. Investigators determined that Campbell contacted the Social Security Administration in 1992 in an alleged effort to remove Coffman’s death record from federal systems.

According to prosecutors, Campbell successfully obtained a replacement Social Security card under Coffman’s identity in October 1995 and later used the stolen identity to obtain approximately $140,000 in fraudulent Social Security Title II Retirement Insurance Benefits beginning in 2015.

Federal authorities stated the investigation ultimately uncovered a much larger fugitive history tied to Campbell dating back more than four decades.

Campbell has an outstanding 1983 arrest warrant from Wyoming for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Attempted First-Degree Murder. According to investigators, the underlying case involved allegations that Campbell planted an explosive device at the home of his estranged wife’s boyfriend in 1982.

Federal court records state the device detonated after Campbell’s wife opened it, causing severe injuries including the loss of a finger while also igniting a fire that damaged the residence and a neighboring housing unit.

Authorities stated Campbell remained a fugitive from justice for more than forty years while living under the stolen identity.

Federal agents arrested Campbell on February 19, 2025, during the execution of a search warrant at his New Mexico property. Investigators stated Campbell was armed during the operation and partially concealed before eventually complying with repeated commands from law enforcement officers.

A subsequent search of the property recovered 57 firearms along with a large quantity of ammunition. Federal prosecutors stated Campbell admitted he knowingly possessed the firearms despite understanding that his fugitive status prohibited him from legally possessing weapons or ammunition under federal law.

Federal authorities also confirmed Campbell had previously appeared on the United States Marshals Service Most Wanted list for more than four decades.

Campbell pleaded guilty to misuse of a passport, possession of false papers to defraud the United States, aggravated identity theft, and being a fugitive from justice in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Federal prosecutors stated Campbell faces up to twelve years in federal prison at sentencing.

The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Ellison, FBI Albuquerque Field Office Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris, and Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General Acting Special Agent in Charge Emma Boston.

The investigation was conducted by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. The case was originally initiated by Diplomatic Security Service investigators assigned to the El Paso Resident Office and the National Passport Center Fraud Prevention Unit.

Additional enforcement assistance was provided by United States Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations and the Otero County Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Clara Nevarez Cobos.

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