LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The ex-girlfriend of Gavin Maloof who is accused in a gold-digging plot to steal close to half a million dollars from the Las Vegas businessman claimed in newly filed court documents she cannot afford an attorney for her defense.

Las Vegas Metro police said Jennifer Courtemanche plotted with her friend to steal nearly $445,000 from Maloof.

Courtemanche, in a financial affidavit filed on Jan. 13, said she is unemployed with no source of income and she does not have the ability to pay for an attorney.

The 8 News Now Investigators have learned, as recent as December, Courtemanche’s mailing address in court documents was an apartment in Marina del Rey, California. Rent for a one-bedroom unit in the building which includes a fitness center, swimming pool, and some units with ocean views, starts at more than $2,700, according to the rental property’s website.

A grand jury indicted Courtemanche, and her friend Brittany Burgess, for three felony counts of theft, one felony count of launder or attempt to launder money or property, one gross misdemeanor of conspiracy to commit theft, and one gross misdemeanor or conspiracy to launder or attempt to launder money last April.

According to police, Courtemanche sent the following text message to Burgess in 2017:

“OMG THIS IS IT he broke up with his [expletive] FINALLY and wants me to come out im not letting redacted or anythinggggg stop me this is my chance for BOTH of us.”

“This neeeeeds to happen.”

“I’ve been so down and out and POOR.”

“…we need to get the life weve always deserved no more struggling no more misery mental hospitals ERs etc lol”

Police said Burgess responded, “…we need plan.”

The first AppleCash transaction to steal money occurred in June 2021, according to police.

According to an arrest warrant, there were additional text messages between the two women communicating about the scheme including the following from Courtemanche who said she was with Maloof at the time of the transaction, “…I was trying so hard not to laugh.”

Maloof had reported receiving harassing text messages and photographs. Las Vegas Metro police investigated and traced the phone numbers to Courtemanche, according to police records.

Courtemanche gained access to Maloof’s cell phone and sent approximately $93,448 in AppleCash payments in 2021,  approximately $275,600 in 2022, and approximately $75,600 in 2023, according to the criminal complaint filed by the Clark County District Attorney’s office.

The investigation began as a harassment case after Maloof had received the text messages and photos from multiple different Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone numbers, according to police.

Las Vegas Metro police with the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department went to Courtemanche’s home with a search warrant.

An LVMPD detective asked Courtemanche if she had any idea why police were at her home, police said. She replied, “literally none,” and she was “obviously stunned,” according to police.

Detectives said that it appeared that Courtemanche made an effort to conceal a phone’s location while they were present.

Las Vegas Metro police also went to the Massachusetts home with help from Massachusetts State Police with a search warrant to seize a cell phone.

“Burgess kept stating how she was confused, and she felt like she was ‘duped’ by her best friend, and she did not understand what was going on,” the warrant stated.

Burgess received nearly $12,000 through the alleged scheme while Courtemanche received nearly $433,000, according to police.

Burgess had a court date scheduled for Jan. 2, according to court records. Her case remains open.

Courtemanche’s next court date is scheduled for Jan. 21.