Jet-setting identity theft suspect to appear in court today
Edward Anderton, the Clyde of the so-called Bonnie-and-Clyde duo who allegedly stole the identities of friends, neighbors and gym acquaintances to fund a lavish lifestyle of international travel and glamorous evenings, is expected to plead guilty before a federal judge in Philadelphia today.
Edward Anderton, the Clyde of the so-called Bonnie-and-Clyde duo who allegedly stole the identities of friends, neighbors and gym acquaintances to fund a lavish lifestyle of international travel and glamorous evenings, is expected to plead guilty before a federal judge in Philadelphia today.
The attorney for Jocelyn Kirsch, Anderton's partner in their alleged crimes, said last week that the two former lovers would plead guilty. Kirsch is scheduled to appear in federal court on Thursday.
Lawrence Krasner, the attorney for Anderton, had no comment yesterday and quickly hung up on a reporter.
Anderton is scheduled to appear before Judge Eduardo C. Robreno for an arraignment and plea hearing, U.S. Attorney's Office spokeswoman Patricia Hartman said yesterday. It will be his initial appearance in federal court. He faces a mandatory minimum two-year sentence in a federal prison.
Anderton, 25, is a 2005 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with an economics degree. He had been a competitive swimmer and held a job as a financial analyst in Philadelphia at Lupert-Adler, a real estate private-equity firm.
In a whirlwind of identity theft and other scams, Anderton and Kirsch reportedly stole the credit cards, wallets and purses of those they knew or came into casual contact with. In some cases, they charged items on stolen credit cards; in other instances, they fenced goods on eBay, according to authorities.
They were arrested in Philadelphia late last year. Law enforcement authorities pegged their thefts at nearly $120,000. Anderton and Kirsch bankrolled travel to Paris and the Caribbean with purloined funds, authorities said.
They lived together at the Belgravia in Center City but have gone separate ways since the arrest. Anderton moved to live with his parents in Everett, Wash.
Kirsch, 22, a former Drexel University senior, made a surprise appearance in federal court on Wednesday, when a judge tightened her bail conditions after authorities learned of an allegation that Kirsch had stolen a credit card in California. The alleged theft took place after her arrest in Philadelphia, authorities said.
Kirsch was ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Lynne A. Sitarski to wear an ankle bracelet and stay in her Marin County, Calif., home 24 hours a day. She is allowed to leave to visit her attorney.
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