By Monica Mercer

mmercer@timesfreepress.com

A former city employee being prosecuted in state court for allegedly lying about having breast cancer and subsequently bilking the city out of more than $90,000 in gifts and cash intends to plead guilty in federal court to one count of wire fraud.

Keele Maynor's federal defense attorney filed a notice of intent to plead guilty.

The move could mean that she is close to also striking a deal with state prosecutors with regard to the nine counts of theft and fraud she faces in the state's jurisdiction.

Ms. Maynor resigned her position as an administrative assistant with the city in December, citing the "charade" she had carried on for about five years in which she told colleagues she had breast cancer.

As a result, those colleagues donated more than 1,550 paid vacation hours to Ms. Maynor for which Ms. Maynor was paid to supposedly take time off and deal with her faked disease.

Local cancer organizations also donated money to Ms. Maynor.

The city auditor estimated that the benefits Ms. Maynor received as the result of her breast cancer scam netted her at least $90,000 in gifts, cash and donations.

Federal authorities last week charged Ms. Maynor with one count of wire fraud. Ms. Maynor waived her right to have the evidence presented to a grand jury, a move that usually indicates a defendant's intent to plead guilty.

The federal crime of wire fraud can lead to up to 30 years in prison.

See tomorrow's Times Free Press for complete details.