Forest City woman pleads guilty to unlawfully receiving unemployment benefits

FOREST CITY — A Forest City woman has pleaded guilty to improperly receiving unemployment benefits.

50-year-old Janell Kelso was charged with one count of first-degree fraudulent practice. Trial information shows that Kelso was accused of unlawfully receiving unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled to by misrepresenting her employment status and income to Iowa Workforce Development between November 2019 and January 2023.

Kelso pleaded guilty to the charge on Tuesday, with District Judge DeDra Schroeder setting her sentencing hearing for May 20th in Winnebago County District Court.

First-degree fraudulent practice is a Class C felony, punishable by up to ten years in prison.