Fugitive “nurse” arrested in Howell County, Mo., pleads not guilty to federal charges

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apprehension, Arkansas Board of Nursing, Department of Health and Human Services, Howell County MO, Howell County Sheriff, indictment, Koshkonong MO, Little Rock AR, nurse, Office of Inspector General, RN, Searcy AR, Sidney Deener Elementary School, Social Security, Susan Boyce, Suzanne Pitts, U.S. Court

Susan Boyce

Little Rock, Ark. — A 59-year-old Koshkonong, Mo., woman pled not guilty here Thursday to federal charges involving her masquerading as a RN for five years with a Searcy, Ark., elementary school.
Susan Elaine Boyce was apprehended in Howell County Wednesday night by agents of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and Howell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Ms. Boyce appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jerome T. Kearney and was remanded to federal custody until a detention hearing can be set. She is being represented by Federal Public Defender Kim Driggers. Her trial date was set for March 3, 2014 before U.S. District Judge Brian S. Miller.
The fugitive “nurse” had been sought since her indictment on wire fraud and identity theft in September of 2012.
The federal indictment charges that Boyce under the name Suzanne Boyce Pitts represented to the Searcy Special School District that she was a licensed Registered Nurse and used someone else’s Social Security number on her W-4 tax form and gave them an Arkansas Board of Nursing license number belonging to another person.
According to the indictment Boyce collected $175,099.24 while working for the Sidney Deener Elementary School. She started out at a salary of 29,158.46 and by the school year 2011-12 she was making an annual salary of $43,390.00
The indictment further states that Susan Elaine Boyce has no credentials as a Registered Nurse.
“I want to commend the agents from the Social Security and the Department of Health and Human Services Administration – Offices of the Inspector General for continuing to develop and pursue leads in this investigation resulting in the apprehension of Ms. Boyce,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher Thyer. “We could not rest knowing she might try to pose as a nurse in some other town to get another healthcare-related position in a school or other facility. The health and safety of anyone who would have trusted she was a qualified healthcare provider was at risk. Thankfully, people no longer have to worry now that she is in custody.”
Boyce is a former resident of Pleasant Plains, Ark. She reportedly had been living in Koshkonong at the time of her arrest.
To view the 5-page indictment, click HERE.