By Howard Packowitz
MCLEAN COUNTY (25 News) – A nearly two-year Lexington Police investigation has led to theft charges against a Woodford County woman accused of stealing up to $1 million from her employer.
25 News reports that the McLean County State’s Attorney’s office obtained a warrant to arrest 45-year-old Nicole Nesland of Minonk, who was taken into custody April 1.
Nesland is charged with two counts of theft, one accusing her of stealing between $500,000 to $1 million and the other alleging she stole between $100,000 and $500,000.
Lexington Police said on the department’s Facebook page it is not identifying the employer.
“At the request of the business, and for their privacy, we are not sharing that information,” the department said.
Lexington Police said they first received information in May of 2024 that an employee was stealing money from the business.
“The Lexington Police Department worked closely with the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office to investigate these allegations,” police said in a release.
Lexington Mayor Spencer Johansen, himself a former police chief, released a statement Sunday evening commending police and prosecutors, and also supporting the business’s desire for privacy.
“As Mayor of Lexington, I want to address the recent arrest announced by our Police Department following a theft investigation involving a local business.
First and foremost, I commend our Lexington Police Department and the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office for their professionalism and thorough work in bringing this case forward.
I also want to be very clear in my support of the business that was impacted. They are the victim in this situation. Protecting their identity is not about withholding information—it is about standing with a local employer, their employees, and their customers as they move forward from a difficult situation.
Small businesses are the backbone of our community. They deserve our support, not additional hardship or unwanted attention resulting from a crime committed against them.
We will continue to prioritize transparency, accountability, and public safety, while also doing what is right for the victims of crime in our community.
As always, all individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.”
Meanwhile, online court records indicate Nesland was released with conditions from the McLean County Jail while her case is pending. Her first pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 30.
Both of the theft counts are Class 1 felonies, each carrying possible prison sentences of up to 15 years if she’s found guilty. She could also receive a community-based sentence of probation and possible county jail time.
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