Two Anchorage women indicted for stealing identities of over 200 Alaskans

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Two Anchorage women have been indicted for stealing the identities of over 200 Alaskans, defrauding banks, elderly victims, Habitat for Humanity, and illegally obtaining approximately $150,000.

Valerie Calip and Jennifer Haydu have been charged with conspiracy, fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering.

According to court documents, “Valerie Calip and Jennifer Haydu stole mail, checkbooks, and identity documents from victims and used the information to create false identification documents.”

Calip and Haydu would steal mail from victims and then sign up for bank accounts and credit cards using the victim’s names and access those accounts using fake IDs. They would also transfer funds via third-party cash transfer apps to cover up the source of the stolen money.

“Calip and Haydu stole more than 200 identity documents and thousands of dollars from victims, including over $100,000 from an elderly victim with dementia and thousands from a Habitat for Humanity bank account,” said the U.S. District Attorney’s Office.

“The U.S. Postal Inspection service is investigating this case and has received invaluable assistance from the Anchorage Police Department,” said a department of law press release.

Calip and Haydu each face a maximum 30 years prison sentence for the most serious counts and a mandatory 2 year sentence for each count of aggravated identity theft.

Anyone who believes they may be a victim of this scheme and entitled to restitution can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 907-271-3661.