May 6, 2004

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the nursing license of Marla Annette Byrd, R.N., a/k/a Marla Vaughan, a/k/a Marla Vaughan Byrd, due to her felony conviction in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan.

On January 16, 2004, Byrd was convicted of Access Device Fraud for fraudulent use of another person’s identifying information to commit credit card fraud. Byrd was sentenced to incarceration for twelve months and one day and supervision for a period of three years upon release from prison.

Additionally, Byrd was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $51,000.00.

On April 28, 2004, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending Byrd’s nursing license pursuant to the Public Health Code, which provides for the mandatory summary suspension of a health professional upon the conviction of a felony. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Byrd’s registered nurse license.

Byrd’s nursing license was previously disciplined on October 3, 2000, based on her felony conviction for Bank Fraud in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan.

More information about disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards is available on the MDCH website at: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, then select the Health Systems and Licensing link.