Nine Guilty in ‘Operation Kryptonite’ Identity Scheme

SEATTLE – Three key players in a comprehensive identity theft ring that stole more than $600,000 from area credit unions and banks over two years–including the chief ID forger–were sentenced to jail Friday, the result of a federal sting dubbed ‘Operation Kryptonite’. Rahsaan Moore, 25, confessed to creating bogus documents using personal data his co-conspirators swiped from a variety of institutions, including Seattle Metropolitan CU, Washington Mutual Bank and Virginia Mason Medical Center, which was used to steal funds from accounts at Seattle Metropolitan CU, Boeing Employees CU, Bank of America and WaMu. Moore created phony IDs and forged checks which were used to drain the funds from the four institutions. Moore was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison and ordered to pay $550,000 in restitution, while two accomplices, Anthony Purdmon, 23, wqas sentenced to 30 months; and April Tyson, 23, to 24 months. Six others have already pleaded guilty and were sentenced as part of the ring. Before being sentenced, Moore pleaded for leniency so he could help care for his four children. But the judge pointed out that Moore should have thought of his children when he was living lavishly off of the stolen funds. The judge also noted that by using information from hospital patients, Moore was stealing from the old and infirm.