FRAUD ALERT! State Auditor Nabs Couple for Unemployment Scam

Today, State Auditor Shad White announced that Special Agents from his office had arrested Brandon Williams and Miranda Trulove for conspiring to defraud the State of Mississippi by obtaining illegal unemployment benefits from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) while Williams was incarcerated and thus ineligible for benefits.

Williams made many phone calls from prison to his wife, Trulove, demanding that she assist him in applying for unemployment benefits. Williams allegedly obtained the unlawful benefits using a Way2Go debit card. Trulove then used his jobless card on several times.

“These are the most recent arrests made for unemployment fraud,” stated State Auditor Shad White. “We will continue to use the latest technology and investigative techniques to uncover fraud, which is how we’ve been able to recover more money in the last five years than any other five-year period.”

If convicted, Williams and Trulove could face up to five years in prison and a $1,000 fine. All individuals arrested by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor are deemed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s Office online at any time by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.gov or calling 1-(800)-321-1275 during regular business hours.