ANCHORAGE – Two Anchorage women, Valerie Calip and Jennifer Haydu, have been indicted by the Department of Justice for a sprawling identity theft and fraud scheme that has preyed upon elderly victims and Habitat for Humanity.
Court documents detail how the duo allegedly obtained at least $150,000 through their devious ploy. They are accused of stealing mail, checkbooks, and identity documents to create false identification, sign up for credit cards and bank accounts in victims’ names, and intercept their mail to access bank accounts. Calip and Haydu also utilized cash transfer apps to hide the origins of the stolen funds by routing them to third-party accounts.
The pair is said to have stolen over 200 identity documents and thousands of dollars from victims. One elderly victim with dementia lost over $100,000, while Habitat for Humanity’s bank account was stripped of thousands more.
Valerie Calip and Jennifer Haydu face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for the most serious charges, including aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year sentence. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The United States Postal Inspection Service is leading the investigation with crucial support from the Anchorage Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Tansey is prosecuting the case on behalf of the District of Alaska.
Victims seeking restitution can contact the United States Attorney’s Office at 907-271-3661. The Justice Department has also established a National Elder Fraud Hotline, staffed by experts who offer personalized support and assist with reporting suspected fraud to relevant agencies. Callers may reach the hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Alaska
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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