07/07/2009

Associated Press

A 28-year-old Eugene man who pleaded guilty to identity theft crimes that involved the names of more than 100 individuals or businesses has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Lane County Circuit Judge Eveleen Henry told Jason Lennon Bell on Monday that she found his victim count breathtaking.

Bell last month pleaded guilty to 17 felonies in which he used the names of 107 people or businesses. He had been charged with 50 other identity theft-related felonies, but those were dismissed as part of his plea agreement.

Defense attorney Daniel Kruse had urged a shorter sentence. He says Bell committed the crimes to feed a heroin addiction and was a different person after his stay in jail forced him to go without drugs.

Eugene police detectives estimate Bell victimized hundreds of other people.

Lane County Deputy District Attorney David Montgomery related what he said was a conversation between Bell and police Detective Jeff Drullinger.

When the detective asked Bell why he had so many IDs, Montgomery said Bell replied, "Dude, it's how I make money."

The prosecutor said that sums up "what Mr. Bell's career choice is."

"I fear, based on his conduct, that he'll continue to do this sort of thing until he's too old to do it," Montgomery said in urging the judge to impose the maximum 16-year sentence possible under the plea deal.

Bell told Henry he wanted to apologize to all his victims and asked her to declare him a drug-dependant person so he qualifies for prison drug treatment. Henry did so.

"The fact is, when you're out of custody, you just run wild," she said. "It's astonishing how much damage you managed to do in such a short period of time." She also ordered him to pay $6,671 in restitution.

Among Bell's purchases with others' identities: a set of Les Schwab tires, a Nintendo Wii and multiple big-screen televisions. Bell reported selling most of the items to buy drugs, said another Eugene police detective, Mike Rustik.

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Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com