DOJ: Three Oregon Men Charged with Bank Fraud

• The defendants allegedly used stolen and altered checks, depositing them into accounts they controlled.
• A sham LLC, Pacific Swift Logistics, was formed to facilitate the fraudulent scheme.

A federal grand jury in Portland indicted Cody James VanWinkle, Kei-Jian Buckley, and Bruce Edward Jones, Jr. for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The defendants allegedly stole or obtained stolen checks, altered them, and deposited the funds into accounts they controlled.

VanWinkle and Buckley created Pacific Swift Logistics, a sham LLC, to assist in the fraud. The group recruited others to deposit or transfer forged checks, then withdrew or transferred the money before financial institutions could flag the deposits as fraudulent. All defendants pleaded not guilty and are scheduled for trial on November 24, 2026.

• Review accounts and transactions linked to Pacific Swift Logistics for signs of fraudulent activity.
• Monitor for altered checks deposited into accounts controlled by Cody James VanWinkle, Kei-Jian Buckley, or Bruce Edward Jones, Jr.
• Flag and investigate wire transfers involving recruits associated with the indicted individuals and their sham LLC.

This case highlights the risks posed by organized groups using sham businesses and recruited individuals to commit bank fraud and money laundering. Compliance officers should be alert to patterns involving altered checks, rapid withdrawals, and the use of shell entities like Pacific Swift Logistics. Early detection and reporting of such typologies are critical to preventing losses and supporting law enforcement investigations into similar schemes.