The co-defendant of a man who used his refund from the Licking County Criminal Justice Center Trust Fund to create counterfeit checks was sentenced in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Wednesday morning. 

Nikole Wiegand, 30, who is already incarcerated for a felony drug case in Licking County, had another 18 months added to her time in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of forgery — felonies of the fifth-degree.

According to Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Litle, Wiegand became involved in the forgery scheme when 33 year-old Keith Gibson Jr. used his refund check from leftover commissary on his account at the Licking County Jail after his release to create counterfeit checks in the institution’s name. 

In December 2018, the pair spent more than $3,000 in three different counties with most of the activity occurring in Muskingum County.

Immediately, the Licking County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the outgoing money. 

“If you forge checks that are on the jail account, they’re going to notice that,” said Litle.

That investigation led to the arrest of Wiegand and Gibson. 

According to Litle, Wiegand quickly owned up to her crimes, but she said wasn’t aware of the origin of those checks. 

“I just want to take responsibility for my actions and apologize,” said Wiegand in court. 

In addition to her 18-month sentence, Wiegand was also ordered to pay $$2,044.27 in restitution. Gibson, who was sentenced to four years in prison Monday, was ordered to pay $844.13 in restitution.

A third person suspected to be involved in the crime has not been charged.