27-year-old nurse pleads guilty to identity theft

NORFOLK

A nurse pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to stealing the identities of patients at a Virginia Beach nursing home and going on a $14,000 spending spree with their credit.

Erica S. Fowler, 27, faces at least two years in prison when she is sentenced in January. She pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar to one count of aggravated identity theft.

Fowler, a licensed practical nurse, admitted that while she was employed at Our Lady of Perpetual Help nursing home on Princess Anne Road between May and July 2008, she accessed the accounts of nine patients and stole their credit information.

She added her name to the accounts and then made $14,000 in purchases from several military exchanges and department stores. The credit card companies have since reimbursed the patients, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Virginia Beach police began investigating in July 2008 after families of some of the patients reported discrepancies in the credit accounts. The authorities executed a search warrant at Fowler's Virginia Beach home and discovered receipts linking her to the crimes.

Fowler remains free on bond pending sentencing. State licensing records indicate that she still holds an active nursing license.

Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com