CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - State auditors say Nevada inmates may have received up to $5 million over the last three years in illegal unemployment benefits.

A report released Thursday by the legislative auditors says the Employment Security Division needs tighter controls and verification procedures to ensure claims for jobless benefits are legitimate.

Auditors say a review of 97,000 claimants in January identified 67 who were incarcerated. Combined they received $214,000 while behind bars. The report says eight instances involved possible identify theft.

The report also says that jobless benefits were paid to 15 people who had died.

Auditors also say the division is not cross-checking jobless benefits claims with private insurance data on people also receiving workers' compensation. Under state law, people out of work because of job-related injury are ineligible for unemployment benefits.

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