How to Be a CEO Without Trying Hard

John E. Bryson, Edison International’s patrician 59-year-old chairman and chief executive, never shopped at the Office Depot in Boynton Beach, Fla.

But a 29-year-old Canadian national posing as Bryson did, and that’s just the start.

Christopher Kaizer used information on Bryson obtained from the Edison International Web site and the company’s corporate tax number from its SEC filings to buy more than $1,000 in office equipment, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

And when Kaizer wanted to buy a $93,000 Mercedes-Benz CLK 55, authorities said, he just pasted a photo of Bryson -- downloaded from the corporate Web site -- onto his Canadian passport.

“They said, ‘Sign and drive,’ ” recounted Assistant U.S. Atty. Jeffrey H. Kay in Fort Lauderdale. “John Bryson has wonderful credit.”

Kaizer took out Office Depot credit cards and arranged for cellular telephones and fax machines in the name of Bryson and Edison International. He even made sure the devices had 626 area codes -- the same as Edison headquarters in Rosemead, Kay said.

But authorities said Kaizer struck out when he tried to sell Bryson’s stock.

Kaizer sought to unload more than 20 million of Bryson’s Edison shares in a private placement sale through South Florida stockbrokers, Kay said.

“They think they’re talking to someone in Rosemead, Calif., when in fact the guy is 30 miles down the road in Hollywood, Fla.,” he said.

When Kaizer could not prove stock ownership, the brokerage firms refused to give him money, Kay said.

Kaizer pleaded guilty Feb. 3 in federal court in Fort Lauderdale to charges of conspiracy, mail fraud and credit card fraud. He faces up to 20 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines when he is sentenced in April, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. However, his Feb. 3 plea agreement recommends a sentence of no more than 24 months in prison because of his “timely acceptance of personal responsibility.”

Alexander Calzadilla, an accomplice who portrayed himself as Bryson’s private attorney, pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiracy and was sentenced to a year in prison.

Neither Kaizer nor Calzadilla could be reached for comment.

Bryson, in a statement, said that he is “glad to hear the matter is concluded.... I certainly was surprised and don’t know why these people decided to use my name and title rather than the names and titles of other CEOs. We have cooperated with Florida law enforcement authorities who have been handling the case from the outset.”

The scheme shows that even relatively minor public figures such as corporate executives are not immune to identity theft.

In fact, Kay said, documents were uncovered during the investigation bearing the names of corporate executives around the country.

“Aim high and you might score big,” Kay said.