A Kansas man who stole scientific calculators from multiple Wal-Mart stores, including one in Maquoketa, has been sentenced to serve more than two years in prison.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 31-year-old Jacob Nelson was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Officials said that in November 2013 Nelson admitted to conspiring with others to transport over $5,000 worth of stolen scientific calculators. In August of 2013 he and a co-conspirator drove from Wisconsin to Iowa carrying more than 200 stolen scientific calculators worth $26,000.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that on the same day, Nelson admitted to stealing 14 scientific calculators worth about $1,300 from the Maquoketa Wal-Mart. He was arrested with the co-conspirator while driving away from the store. Upon searching his vehicle, police found hundreds of stolen calculators and two loaded handguns.
Officials say along with his prison sentence, Nelson was ordered to pay more than $163,000 in restitution to Wal-Mart and must serve three years of supervised release.
Nelson’s brother, 29-year-old Caleb Nelson pleaded guilty in January 2014 to co-conspiring to transport stolen calculators.