Alexander M.M. Uballez U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico
A man who evaded authorities for over 40 years has been apprehended in New Mexico. Stephen Craig Campbell, 76, was arrested on February 19, 2025, after an investigation revealed his use of a deceased man's identity to avoid capture and fraudulently obtain government benefits.
Court documents allege that Campbell assumed the identity of Walter Lee Coffman, who died in 1975. Both Campbell and Coffman attended the University of Arkansas during the same period, suggesting a possible connection. It is claimed that Campbell first applied for a passport under Coffman's name in 1984 and renewed it multiple times using his own photograph and address.
In addition to obtaining a Social Security card in Coffman's name in 1995 with an Oklahoma driver’s license, Campbell allegedly moved to Weed, New Mexico around 2003. There he purchased property under Coffman's name and continued renewing the fraudulent passport.
The scheme began to unravel when Campbell attempted to renew his driver's license at the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department in Cloudcroft in September 2019. He presented fraudulent documents including a Social Security card and U.S. passport under Coffman's name. This led agents from the National Passport Center's Fraud Prevention Unit to discover Coffman's death and suspect fraudulent activity.
Further investigation revealed that Campbell allegedly received approximately $140,000 in U.S. government funds through Social Security benefits under Coffman's identity. In addition to these charges, Campbell was wanted for attempted first-degree murder dating back to 1982 when he allegedly planted an explosive device at his estranged wife's boyfriend's residence.
Authorities obtained warrants on February 14, 2025, leading to Campbell's arrest on a property registered under Coffman's name. During the arrest operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies, Campbell reportedly greeted officers armed with a scoped rifle but was detained after orders were given and flashbangs deployed.
Following his arrest, fingerprinting confirmed Campbell's true identity and fugitive status with an active warrant for attempted first-degree murder from Wyoming. A search of his property yielded firearms and ammunition which he was prohibited from possessing as a fugitive.
Campbell has been charged by criminal complaint with misuse of a passport and remains in custody pending trial. If convicted of this charge alone, he faces up to ten years in prison. Authorities are reviewing evidence collected during their search for potential additional charges.
Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin announced the case alongside Special Agent Jason Albers from SSA OIG and Raul Bujanda from FBI Albuquerque Field Office.
The investigation involved cooperation between various agencies including the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office Las Cruces Resident Agency and SSA’s Office of Inspector General among others while being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Clara Nevarez Cobos.
"A criminal complaint is merely an allegation," officials stated emphasizing all defendants' presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court proceedings.
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