Christina Glen, Theft of Government Funds, Indiana 2023

Grimy Times

A 43-year-old woman from LaPorte, Indiana, has been sentenced to two years of probation and $15,210 in restitution for her role in a widespread unemployment insurance fraud scheme.

According to court documents, Christina Glen, along with four other individuals, fraudulently collected government funds in the form of unemployment insurance benefit payments from the State of Indiana.

The individuals, who all worked for the same company in Michigan City, Indiana, received wages while also applying for and receiving benefit payments to which they were not entitled.

The total amount of restitution to be paid to the State of Indiana by each defendant ranged from $15,000 to $25,000, with the collective total amounting to $97,523.

Glen pleaded guilty to the felony offense of theft of government funds and was sentenced to two years of probation and $15,210 in restitution by District Judge Robert Miller, Jr.

This is the fifth defendant to be sentenced in the investigation, which was conducted by the United States Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Previously convicted in the investigation were:

• Keith Galassi, 33, of Michigan City, Indiana, who was sentenced to 2 years of probation and restitution of $15,210 on May 28, 2013.

• Deandre Grant, 36, of Michigan City, Indiana, who was sentenced to 3 years of probation with 6 months of home detention and restitution of $19,657 on June 17, 2013.

• Terry Smith, 33, of Michigan City, Indiana, who was sentenced to 3 years of probation and restitution of $18,330 on June 21, 2013.

• Leon Thomas, 38, of Lynwood, Illinois, who was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment on April 4, 2013, after pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft.

This case highlights the importance of vigilance in preventing and detecting unemployment insurance fraud, which not only harms the economy but also undermines the integrity of the system for those who genuinely need assistance.

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