Crime & Safety
Man Accused of Using Food Stamps to Steal From Walmart
Police say the defendant used his food stamps, and that allowed store staff to identify him.
It's amazing what you can buy with food stamps these days. A 36-year-old Racine man is accused of stealing more than $1,500 in goods from Walmart since October.
Erik Christian Nelson was charged in Racine County Circuit Court Tuesday with one count of felony retail theft. If convicted, he faces up to 1 ½ years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint, Walmart workers contacted the Mount Pleasant Police Department after Nelson came into the store on various occasions between Oct. 11 and Dec. 4 and would steal items from the store. A total of $1,538 had been taken from the store and Nelson was identified after he used his food stamps during several of the incidents to buy items.
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Nelson admitted to taking a set of binoculars and a Dyson vacuum cleaner, but denied taking other items. He’s currently being held in Racine County Jail on a $1,000 signature bond while awaiting trial.
