Ex-State Museum Worker From Mercer Fraudulently Claimed Unemployment Benefits

MERCER COUNTY, NJ - A former New Jersey State Museum employee from Mercer County fraudulently collected unemployment benefits while working full-time for the state, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) said Friday.

Shayion Brooks, 37, of Trenton, faces charges of theft by unlawful taking (third degree), falsifying or tampering with public records (fourth degree), and false swearing (fourth degree).

Authorities allege she received around $31,645 in state and federal unemployment payments over 58 weeks between June 2020 and September 2021 while simultaneously earning a full-time state salary.

“As alleged, the defendant took thousands of dollars in benefits meant to help folks who are out of work while she was getting paid full time by the State, and then she lied about it,” Platkin said. “As these charges attest, we take maintaining the public’s trust in government, and the stewardship of public resources, seriously.”

According to court documents, Brooks used the New Jersey Department of Labor's Division of Unemployment Insurance website to falsely certify unemployment claims while fully employed. When the DOL discovered the discrepancy in October 2022, Brooks was summoned to testify under oath at a tribunal hearing in July 2024.

During that hearing, she claimed to be a victim of identity theft and denied submitting the claims. However, investigators determined the unemployment funds were deposited into the same personal bank account that received her state paychecks.

Withdrawal slips from that account bearing Brooks' signature were also recovered, Platkin said.

"The defendant allegedly tried to double dip: not only getting a paycheck, but State unemployment benefits at the same time," said Eric Gibson, Executive Director of OPIA. "Anyone who tries to con the State in order to receive undeserved benefits will be held accountable."

Third-degree charges carry three to five years in prison and fines up to $15,000. Fourth-degree offenses could result in up to 18 months imprisonment and fines up to $10,000.

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