Couple arrested after husband collected unemployment benefits while in prison

A Mississippi couple was arrested for working together to collect unemployment benefits for their husband while he was incarcerated.

Brandon Williams and Miranda Trulove were taken into custody on charges of conspiracy to defraud the state government. According to the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor, Williams would call his wife from prison and ask her to file for unemployment benefits on his behalf. Williams then received the benefits through an unemployment debit card that Trulove used multiple times.

Under state law, it is illegal to collect unemployment benefits while incarcerated.

“These are the most recent arrests we have made for unemployment fraud,” said Auditor Shad White. “We will continue to use the latest technology to detect fraud. This has allowed us to recover more money in the last five years than in any other five-year period.”

If convicted, Williams and Trulove each face up to five years in prison and a $1,000 fine.