DES MOINES, Iowa (KWQC) – Officials said a Clinton, Iowa, man is behind bars for stealing and using the identity of a man who died in 2013.

According to court documents, Rusty Todd Johnston spent more than a decade using the stolen identity to build a new life, obtaining driver’s licenses in at least five states — Iowa, Nevada, Utah, Louisiana and West Virginia. Officials said he also received Social Security cards five times and was married at least twice using the false identity.

Authorities said Johnston assumed the identity of Adam Preston Duriga of Nevada, who died in 2013. Officials said Johnston stopped using his real name and personal information around 2008.

In 2020, officials said Johnston, posing as Duriga, moved to Clinton, Iowa, where he obtained a commercial driver’s license using the stolen information. In 2021, officials said Johnston purchased a handgun in Davenport under the false identity, falsely certifying that he was not a convicted felon. Officers later found the handgun during a 2024 search of Johnston’s home, officials said.

Officials said Johnston’s criminal history dates back to 2005, when he was convicted of felony drug charges in Texas and received a suspended prison sentence. Within months, officials said Johnston absconded from probation, prompting authorities to issue an arrest warrant.

Court records show Johnston, 46, was sentenced Jan. 16 to three years in federal prison for false use of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft and weapons charges. After completing his prison sentence, Johnston will be required to serve two years of supervised release.

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