Marion County authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a 57-year-old Indianapolis woman accused of improperly collecting nearly $96,000 in Social Security disability benefits after her husband died.
Prosecutors charged Nikki Dayton with Level 5 felony theft, claiming she received $95,785.50 in benefits between March 2021 and early 2025 despite being no longer eligible. A Level 5 felony in Indiana carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison.
According to court papers, the woman’s spouse died on March 19, 2021, but investigators say it was never reported to the Social Security Administration. As a result, the couple’s joint bank account continued to receive monthly deposits totaling $2,466.
A tip received in January 2025 sparked a government investigation. Authorities found that the lady was employed and not disabled, rendering her ineligible for the survivor benefits she continued to receive. Investigators also noted that she appeared astonished when asked how the payments had continued.
Financial documents purportedly showed that each monthly deposit was transferred to other bank accounts associated with the woman. Federal officials recovered $22,334.49 through Treasury actions, leaving an alleged loss of $73,451.21.
The complaint was filed in Marion Superior Court 27, where the woman has yet to be booked as of Monday, August. 3. Authorities continue to seek her arrest while the criminal case is ongoing.
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