The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department along with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development obtained information that inmates from various jails and prisons are applying for unemployment, while incarcerated within the jail or prison.
The inmates have people not incarcerated complete the online application and weekly vouchers to receive the unemployment funds.
After several months of investigations, the facts and information were turned over to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office for review. The amount of money collected from the inmates exceeded several thousand dollars, while they had been incarcerated. The Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office filed formal charges on the following individuals for Welfare Fraud, a Level 6 Felony:
Shannon J. Sales, 39 of South Bend, was arrested on Thursday, January 19, 2023 and booked into the Marshall County Jail. The cash bond for her is $3,000.
Christina L. Reyes, 40, of Pennsylvania Avenue in Plymouth was arrested on January 17, 2023 and booked into the Marshall County Jail with a $1,500 cash bond.
Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.
