Attorney General's News Release

January 11, 2011

Barton County woman pleads guilty to identity theft

Jefferson City, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster said today that Susan Michelle Higgins, of Golden City, has pled guilty to the class C felony of identity theft in Christian County Circuit Court. The case was moved from Barton County to Christian County on a change of venue.

Koster said a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation revealed that in April 2005 Higgins applied for a credit card with American Express. In applying for the credit card, Higgins used the Social Security number of another person. Higgins charged thousands of dollars on the American Express card she received as a result of her fraudulent application. She told investigators she had used the credit card for expenses related to her daycare business. The records associated with the credit card showed purchases for clothing, restaurants, and travel that clearly were not related to a daycare business.

Koster said his office was assigned to serve as special prosecuting attorney in the case. Sentencing for Higgins is scheduled for March 4, 2011.