Iowa Workforce: John Deere Works employee falsely claimed over-payments

A 49-year-old Sheffield, Ill., man faces a felony charge after an Iowa Workforce investigator says he received benefits to which he was not entitled, according to affidavits.

James Balensiefen Sr. faces a Class C felony charge of first-degree fraudulent practices (includes food stamps,) according to an Iowa Workforce Development affidavit dated Oct. 8 and court records.

Kasandra Ellenwood, investigator with the Investigations & Recovery Bureau of Iowa Workforce Development, says in the affidavit that she investigated Balensiefen’s application and claims for Iowa Unemployment Insurance benefits, and that she confirmed with his employer John Deere CEC – Davenport Works that he was working for them during the benefit years in which he claimed unemployment benefits.

“By comparing the wages James G. Balensiefen reported to Iowa Workforce Development on a weekly basis with the wages reported by the employer, I was able to determine that he had provided false information to Iowa Workforce development during his weekly claims, resulting in over-payments to which he was not entitled,” Ellenwood says in the affidavit. “The total amount of over-payment from Iowa Workforce Development to James G. Balensiefen is $18,661,” she said in the affidavits.

A warrant, which was issued for Balensiefen in October 2019, was served Friday, court records say. He was released on $1,000 bond from Scott County Jail.

Punishment for a Class C felony, upon conviction, can be up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine.

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