Man to plead guilty to forgery, theft, fraud charges

A Greencastle man will be in court Nov. 6 to answer to charges of Class C felony forgery and Class D felonies theft, identity decepetion and welfare fraud.

According to court documents, Christopher J. Mullins, 24, fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits and used the money for his own personal gain.

Mullins allegedly applied for and was granted unemployment benefits in the name of a former roommate. The roommate, court documents said, discovered an Indiana Department of Workforce Development Visa debit card in his name when he was moving a dresser in a room that had formerly been occupied by Mullins. Along with the card, the roommate also found a piece of paper on which his Social Security number and date of birth were written, court documents said.

The roommate met with an investigator at the Putnamville State Police Post, where he signed a sworn affidavit saying he had never applied for unemployment benefits and that he believed his identity was stolen and used by Mullins.

The Department of Workforce Development confirmed that benefits had been dispersed in the roommate's name, and that the amount taken via the debit card was $861.

Mullins was identified as the person who used the card through surveillance photos from a Greencastle bank, court documents said.

Mullins' criminal history include a conviction for harvesting illegal ginseng and several traffic violations. He is currently on probation in Clay County for battery.