Ex-school nurse changes plea to guilty in fraud, ID theft case

A woman who had initially pleaded innocent to charges that she used another person's identity and credentials to work as a nurse at a Searcy elementary school changed her plea to guilty Wednesday afternoon.

Susan Elaine Boyce, 59, formerly of Pleasant Plains, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and misuse of a Social Security number, The Associated Press reports. In a deal with prosecutors, Boyce agreed to change her plea in exchange for the dismissal of four other counts of wire fraud.

Cherith Beck, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of Arkansas, did not return a phone call Wednesday afternoon seeking comment.

Boyce's charges stem from her alleged use of another person's Social Security number and state Board of Nursing license to get the job at Sidney Deener Elementary School in Searcy, where she worked as a nurse from 2007-12, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported. She was initially charged with five counts of wire fraud over paychecks she cashed through the Federal Reserve Bank.

Boyce was arrested Jan. 29 by federal agents and sheriff's deputies in Howell County, Mo., according to a statement by U.S. Attorney Chris Thyer on Jan. 30. A date for sentencing has not been set.

Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more details.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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