Kelly J. Nichols

WARSAW — Charges of welfare fraud have been filed against Kelly J. Nichols, 55, 1138 E. 300S, Warsaw. Nichols was booked at the county jail Sunday morning, May 8. The charge is a class C felony.

Filed April 25, the affidavit of probable cause was filed by Monica Portillo, fraud investigator for Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Portillo initiated the investigation when Ohio Mills Corporation filed a protest Nichols was receiving benefits while employed.

Portillo found around Feb. 2, 2013, Nichols applied for unemployment, stating she had been laid off. She began receiving benefits of $390 per week starting Feb. 9, 2013, through Dec. 6, 2014. Nichols, on a weekly basis during that time, filed documents stating she was unemployed and had no earnings.

On Oct. 6, 2015, Portillo inspected payroll records and found weekly earnings from Ohio Mills Corporation, corresponding to the weeks Nichols received unemployment compensation benefits. Portillo noted Nichols did not report her employment and earnings, falsely certifying to the department her unemployment.

Portillo reported Nichols received an over payment of $16,225. The document shows, with penalties and additional over payment, the total comes to $28,966.50.

Nichols was held on $10,000 surety and $250 cash bond.