Rachel Yould, 38, pleaded guilty in June to 15 federal felonies charged in two indictments: 10 counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud and four counts of making false statements to a bank.
Despite her guilty pleas, she says she is innocent and that the charges resulted from misunderstandings over a second Social Security number she secured under a program intended to protect domestic violence victims.
Prosecutors say that's not true and that she repeatedly lied and forged documents in order to secure nearly $700,000 in student loans. Of that, more than $400,000 was spent on items unrelated to her quest for a doctorate degree, prosecutors say.
U.S. District Judge John Sedwick, anticipating lengthy presentations by both the defense and the prosecution, set aside two full days for the sentencing, but that wasn't enough. The hearing resumes at 1 p.m. in U.S. District Court. Yould is expected to speak in court before the judge sentences her.
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