Jesse Michael Whitlock of Ohio hs pled guilty to theft, a category “B” felony, for his role in fraudulently obtaining unemployment insurance benefits.
The theft occurred between December 2010 and August 2011 while Whitlock, 38, was incarcerated in Henderson for driving under the influence, traffic violations, and a fugitive warrant out of Ohio.
Despite his ineligibility for unemployment insurance benefits, Whitlock continued to obtain state assistance with the aid of codefendant Nedine Renee Christunas. During Whitlock’s incarceration, Christunas fraudulently filed claims for unemployment insurance benefits on behalf of Whitlock.
She would then withdraw the state assistance from Whitlock’s state-issued account, and use the funds to pay for his expenses as well as her own.
As part of his plea, Whitlock agreed to pay full restitution of more than $13,000 to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. He is set to be sentenced in the Eighth Judicial District Court in June 2016.
A warrant for the arrest of Christunas is outstanding, and she remains at large.
