Steven James Smith, 41, of Northwest Arkansas has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for a scheme to sell real estate he had no legal right to transfer and for using a fraudulent driver’s license bearing another person’s identity. The Honorable Chief Judge Timothy L. Brooks handed down the sentence on August 6, 2026, in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
Smith was sentenced to 156 months for wire fraud and 24 months for aggravated identity theft, with the sentences running consecutively. He will also serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
According to court documents, Smith identified real property throughout the Northwest Arkansas area and attempted to sell properties to which he had no legal claim or authority. He entered into purchase agreements with buyers and transmitted those agreements to various title companies via email and electronic communication, presenting himself as having legitimate authority to sell the properties. To execute the fraud, Smith used a fraudulent driver’s license bearing another individual’s name and information.
U.S. Attorney Kevin R. Holmes of the Western District of Arkansas announced the conviction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Marshall prosecuted the case, with investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
