Woman accused of using victim's name to get nursing job sentenced

DA: Woman used stolen identity of former prison cellmate's mother

SAN ANTONIO – One of the most notorious identity thieves in Bexar County was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday, attorneys said.

Toni Stringfellow, 54, was convicted of fraudulent use of identifying information less than five items against an elderly individual, according to the Bexar County District Attorney's Office.

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Authorities said Stringfellow, who was released from prison in November 2012, began targeting one of her previous victims, the ex-wife of her current husband.

Stringfellow attempted to open credit cards in the victim's name and used the victim's social security number to cash a fake check, attorneys said.

During this time, Stringfellow was also hired as nursing director by McCullough Hall Nursing Center, Inc., located adjacent to OLLU, and on the grounds of Our Lady of the Lake Convent Center. McCullough Hall Nursing Center is a nursing facility that maintains and restores the health of retired and sick Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence as well as residents of the community. 

To obtain the position of nursing director, she used the stolen identity of her former prison cellmate's mother, who happened to be a registered nurse, according to the District Attorney's Office.

During Stringfellow's tenure as nursing director, several credit cards were stolen from employees, and the cards were used at several locations throughout San Antonio.

Authorities said OLLU police, while investigating the credit card thefts, questioned Stringfellow and determined her real name and identity. Stringfellow was then taken into custody by OLLU police in June 2013 on a San Antonio Police Department warrant for the criminal acts committed against the ex-wife of her current husband.

Once she was back in the Bexar County Jail, Stringfellow continued to attempt, unsuccessfully, to access the ex-wife's bank accounts using the phone and mail access provided to the inmates, authorities said.

Fraudulent use of identifying information less than five items used against an elderly individual is a third-degree felony offense. However, Stringfellow was a habitual criminal, making the offense punishable from 25 to 99 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story used information provided by the District Attorney's Office that incorrectly identified the relationship between Stringfellow, OLLU and the McCullough Hall Nursing Center. This information has been corrected and is reflected above.


About the Author:

Troy Blevins is a Digital Content Editor who has been with Graham Media Group since 2012.