May 6, 2004

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the nursing license of Voltaire I. Rice, L.P.N., a/k/a Voltaire Ida James, due to her felony convictions in the Third Judicial Circuit Court, Wayne County, Michigan.

Rice failed to report her convictions to MDCH as required by the Public Health Code. On December 8, 2000, Rice pled guilty to Financial Transaction Device - Possession and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, placed on probation for one year and ordered to pay costs in the amount of $180.00.

On November 7, 2003, Rice pled guilty to Obtaining Personal Identity Information without Authorization and Financial Transaction Device-Stealing/Retaining without Consent. Rice was sentenced to seven months in jail, placed on probation for one year and ordered to pay restitution and costs totaling $19,634.58.

Previously, on February 17, 1993, Rice was convicted in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, Oakland County, Michigan, of Uttering and Publishing, a felony, and was sentenced to 183 days in jail.

On April 28, 2004, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending Rice’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 Rice’s licensed practical nurse license.

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.