Anchorage, Alaska – Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that an Anchorage woman has been sentenced to 54 months on one count of Bank Fraud and one count of Aggravated Identity Theft.

Kara Hayden, Jr., 50, of Anchorage, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Aunnie Steward, who prosecuted the case, from at least October 2014 to December 2015, Hayden applied for seventeen credit cards using the names, social security numbers, and dates of birth of nine different victims without their knowledge or authorization. Several of the victims had purchased veteran’s funeral benefits from Hayden. Hayden then used their personal information obtained during that process to fraudulently apply for credit cards. Hayden obtained approximately $14,500 in cash and retail goods prior to the discovery of her scheme.

A pleading filed with the court indicated that Hayden had also worked as an agent selling identity theft protection for nine years and was uniquely aware of the adverse consequences associated with identity theft. See Hayden’s LinkedIn profile below:

Judge Gleason noted that the defendant’s crimes were particularly serious because she targeted veterans who have served our country.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder commends the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, assisted by the Alaska State Insurance Division, for the investigation in this case.