EVERETT — The Philadelphia arrest of an Everett man and his girlfriend — the couple attracting national media attention for allegedly fueling a lavish lifestyle with stolen credit cards — has left the man’s former neighbors baffled and concerned.
Edward “Eddie” Anderton, 25, who grew up in south Everett and graduated from Snohomish High School, was a “stand-up” guy, friends said Thursday.
“He’s the last person I’d expect this to happen to,” neighbor Eric Leathart said.
Anderton and his girlfriend, Jocelyn Kirsch, 22, were arrested in Philadelphia and charged with identity theft, forgery, unlawful use of a computer and related offenses. They could also face burglary charges and the FBI is considering federal charges against the pair.
Philadelphia police believe the young jetsetters financed their $3,000-a-month condo and luxury trips to Paris, London, Hawaii and the Caribbean with other people’s money.
Police allege they stole the identity of neighbors in their upscale building — and at least twice broke into other units. It’s estimated the couple stole $100,000 this year alone.
A dazzling array of travel photos from the couple’s laptop showed Kirsch modeling a red bikini at an elegant resort and reclining nude in a spa-sized bubble bath. Snapshots show the pair riding horseback on a beach and kissing beneath the Eiffel Tower.
The photo album, released to the press, has attracted a crush of national media and untold Internet hits. Some in the national media have dubbed the pair a modern-day “Bonnie and Clyde.”
Near Mill Creek on Thursday, a FedEx package from People magazine was unopened on the doorstep at the Anderton family home.
No one answered the door. Family in Philadelphia on Thursday declined to talk to reporters.
One former Snohomish County neighbor said she’s concerned people will jump to the wrong conclusion.
“I would not judge at this point in time,” said Debbie Blackburn, who lived next to the Anderton family for a dozen years. “We’ve been sick for days. We’ve had knots in our stomachs and have been sick for days to think they’ve had to go through that.”
Blackburn has stayed in touch with the Anderton family since moving a few years ago and has tried to reach them since news broke of the arrest.
In a Philadelphia courtroom Thursday, Anderton’s mother broke down in tears, briefly sobbing as she waited for her son’s hearing.
“I feel really bad. They’re a great family,” Blackburn said.
Along with his younger brother, Joseph, the Anderton boys mixed with a group of teens on the block.
Eddie Anderton was the one who seemed to have his act together, Leathart, 18, said.
“He’s always the one that had everything figured out,” he said.
Strikingly handsome, Anderton got straight As and was a swimmer in high school and college, friends said.
“He excelled at everything. The teachers loved him,” Steve Blackburn, 22, said.
He has no prior arrests, Anderton’s lawyer, Larry Krasner, said. He was recently fired from a job as a financial analyst.
His parents are expected to post bail and bring him back to Everett to await trial, the Associated Press reported.
Although the type of identity theft that Anderton is accused of is common, the reported circumstances of his case don’t mirror what happens here.
“I’ve yet to prosecute someone who is living the affluent lifestyle by means of ID theft,” said Halley Hupp, who works identity-theft cases for the Snohomish County prosecutor’s office. More typically, people who engage in the crime are paying for drug habits, especially methamphetamine and OxyContin abuse.
Philadelphia police arrested Anderton and his girlfriend late last week. During a weekend search of the couple’s home, police said they found $17,500 in cash, dozens of credit cards, fake driver’s licenses, keys to unlock many of the apartments and mailboxes in their building, and an industrial machine that makes ID cards.
“I’ve talked to both of them. They know how much trouble they’re in,” said defense lawyer Ronald Greenblatt, who represents Kirsch but spoke for both defendants.
The lawyer hopes to negotiate plea deals.
“From the information I have, they’re both responsible for this,” Greenblatt said. “For either one to be pointing the finger at the other just belies the evidence in the case.”
In Snohomish County, former neighbor Debbie Blackburn said she wants to support her friends in whatever way she can.
“We’re there for them,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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