Woman accused of identity fraud
Used someone else’s license to work as nurse, lawmen say
FAYETTEVILLE — A Bella Vista woman was arrested Thursday after authorities said she worked at a Springdale nursing home while using another person’s nursing license and name, according to a probable cause affidavit from detectives with the Washington County sheriff’s office.
Alicia Flanagan, 55, of 46 Annabell Lane in Bella Vista was arrested in connection with two counts of practicing medicine without a license and two counts of nonfinancial identity fraud. Flanagan was released from the Washington County jail on Thursday on $10,000 bond.
The director of nursing at Springdale Health and Rehabilitation Center contacted police in June to report a previous employee had been practicing medicine without a license, according to the affidavit.
The director told police the Arkansas State Board of Nursing had informed her Flanagan had been fraudulently using credentials of a nurse named Alicia Pierce, who lives in Virginia, in order to obtain employment.
Flanagan worked at Springdale Health and Rehabilitation from Sept. 6, 2022, until Jan. 1, 2023, using those credentials, according to the affidavit.
The state nursing board became aware of the situation when Flanagan applied for and started working at North Hills Life Care and Rehab on May 4 using the credentials, the affidavit states.
The nursing board contacted Pierce, who did not know her license was being used by Flanagan, according to the affidavit. Flanagan does not possess a valid nursing license, the affidavit states.
Flanagan did go to college for a short time but did not earn a degree or certification, authorities said.
Flanagan, during an interview with police, said she had worked at Springdale Health and Rehabilitation and she did not have a nursing license, according to the affidavit.
Flanagan has a May 13 arraignment date.