Docs: Indy woman conspired with boyfriend to file unemployment benefits for inmates

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis woman allegedly conspired with her boyfriend, a convicted murderer, to file unemployment benefits for incarcerated inmates at the Marion County Jail.

According to court documents filed earlier this month in Marion County, 33-year-old Brittney Benberry was charged with:

• One count of corrupt business influence, a Level 5 felony
• 17 counts of perjury, each a Level 6 felony (lying on submission forms)
• 16 counts of inmate fraud, each a Level 6 felony

In October 2021, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office grand jury division was presented a case involving a possible unemployment fraud scheme occurring in the Marion County Jail.

Court documents allege Marcus Minor, a man incarcerated on murder charges at the time, was speaking with his girlfriend, Benberry, about filing for unemployment benefits for Marion County inmates.

According to previous reports, Minor was sentenced to 95 years in prison in March 2024 after he was found guilty of murder, attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon in October 2023.

The court documents provide details on several phone conversations between Minor, Benberry and various inmates surrounding unemployment benefits.

On the phone calls, Minor and Benberry reportedly discussed that they could take a cut of the unemployment benefits without the inmate knowing. Benberry also talked about her soon-to-be employment with the Indiana Department of Revenue.

Investigators said that a subpoena was filed with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development in July 2021 regarding documents in the accounts for Minor, Benberry and two inmates surrounding unemployment insurance benefits as well as pandemic unemployment assistance.

The documents claim that out of the four accounts, one IP address was seen in all four accounts, an address later linked to Benberry.

While the benefits were denied for the other inmates, Minor reportedly collected more than $5,000 in pandemic unemployment assistance benefits. The documents claim that some of the funds were spent on services “utilized by an incarcerated individual, including Aramark, phone service and inmate payment. More than $3,000 was also spent outside, including transactions at various restaurants, gas stations and Door Dash transactions.

In September 2024, law enforcement reportedly reached out to Benberry for a statement on this case. At the time, Benberry reportedly told law enforcement that she would car them back to make arrangements to give a statement.

“As of Sept. 11, 2024, (law enforcement has) not heard from (Benberry) about setting up an interview,” the documents said.

The court documents said that officials set Benberry’s bond at $100,000 surety and $10,000 cash. Benberry’s initial hearing is scheduled for June 2.