Alex Welke
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A Wausau man accused of unemployment fraud has entered a not guilty plea to one count of felony retail theft, stemming from a separate criminal complaint.
Alex Welke is accused of taking between $5,000 and $10,000 in goods from Walmart in December 2025. The case is one of three that the 32-year-old is currently facing.
The most serious charge involves more than $20,000 in unemployment compensation that investigators believe Wielke received while he was in jail. He’s also accused of misrepresenting his self-employment status and income on the forms.
Those who spend more than two days in jail are not eligible to receive unemployment payments for that week. Investigators say the scheme ran for 11 months, from May 2020 to April ’21. He also faces misdemeanor charges for battery, criminal damage to property, and obstructing an officer.
The cases have been cross-referenced, meaning they will proceed together. Further court dates have been scheduled for June 25th.
If found guilty of unemployment fraud, he faces up to 10 years in prison, $25,000 in fines, and restitution to the state’s unemployment benefits fund.
Wielke’s record includes previous convictions for felony forgery, criminal trespassing, and multiple OWIs.
Comments