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Indiana State Police say Jason Fulks and relatives are connected to alleged copper-wire thefts from Indiana Department of Transportation lighting projects in Vanderburgh, Posey and Warrick counties. Reports place the estimated loss above $360,000; WFIE cited construction crews’ estimate of more than $367,000. Natalee Fairchild and Sherry Beasley were reported charged with corrupt business influence, while Fulks was identified as the principal suspect. The case was still under investigation in the latest coverage, and no conviction had been reported.
What happened at the I-69 construction sites?
The alleged thefts involved copper wire installed for INDOT lighting work in southwest Indiana, including a district-wide contract at the I-69/I-64 interchange. INDOT told WFIE that copper was reported stolen from the work zone and that the agency was evaluating how the theft affected the project. Indiana State Police were investigating.
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The reported dollar amount is an estimate rather than a final audited loss. Construction crews told WFIE that more than $367,000 in wire was stolen. WEHT reported an estimate exceeding $360,000, and the Hoosier Enquirer described the reported range while noting that a final project bill had not been disclosed.
| Report | Published | Geographic or project scope | Amount and status |
|---|---|---|---|
| WFIE/14 News | 2026 | INDOT lighting projects, including the I-69/I-64 interchange work | More than $367,000, a construction-crew estimate |
| WEHT | 2026 | Indiana State Police and construction-crew account of the case | More than $360,000, an estimate |
| Hoosier Enquirer summary | 2026 | Summary of the reported thefts | Above $360,000 to $367,000; final project bill not disclosed |
Because the figures come from separate reports and have not been presented as a completed audit, they should not be treated as a settled restitution amount or the final cost to taxpayers, the contractor or an insurer.
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Who was charged in the Indiana I-69 copper case?
Fairchild and Beasley were reported charged with corrupt business influence. Fulks was described in police reporting as the main suspect, and reports also referred to relatives in connection with the alleged thefts.
Jason Fulks
WFIE reported that Fulks had been arrested earlier in October after a traffic stop. The coverage described a warrant in the copper case before a later booking update. It also reported that investigators found tools and copper in his truck. The reviewed reports did not provide a complete, verified list of every charge against him or the allegations in a probable-cause affidavit.
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Natalee Fairchild
Fairchild, 35, was reported arrested on a Thursday night and appeared in court Friday. The charge reported for her was corrupt business influence.
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Sherry Beasley
Beasley was reported booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail and facing the same corrupt-business-influence charge.
These are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges in court. The reviewed coverage reported no conviction or plea outcome.
How did investigators build the case?
The investigation reportedly began with information shared by scrap yards across the Tri-State area. Those businesses alerted investigators after seeing Fulks and family members selling large quantities of copper.
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Over several months, investigators reportedly assembled additional evidence using:
- Surveillance video from relevant locations;
- License-plate-reader records;
- Cell-phone data; and
- Tools and copper reportedly recovered from Fulks’s truck.
Those investigative leads may support the state’s theory of an organized operation, but their legal significance will be tested through charging documents, hearings and any eventual trial. The available reports did not include the complete evidence file or defense responses.
What does “corrupt business influence” mean in Indiana?
Indiana Code § 35-45-6-2 defines corrupt business influence as participating in an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity. The 2025 statutory text reproduced by Justia classifies the offense as a Level 5 felony.
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Indiana’s cited sentencing provision sets a Level 5 felony at a fixed term of one to six years and allows a fine of up to $10,000. Those are statutory ranges, not a prediction of what any defendant would receive. Sentencing can depend on the charge proven, criminal history, plea agreements and other case-specific factors.
Was the I-69 lighting project delayed?
No delay has been established in the available reporting. INDOT said, “INDOT is currently evaluating the impacts of this theft on the project,” and confirmed that the affected work zone was installing lighting at the I-69/I-64 interchange.
The reports did not establish when replacement wire would be installed, how much replacement work would cost, whether the lighting schedule changed, or whether the contractor, an insurer or public funds would absorb those costs. Those details may change as INDOT and investigators complete their evaluations.
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What remains unknown about the case?
- The final audited value of copper and related project losses;
- The cost and timing of replacement materials and labor;
- Whether the interchange lighting work suffered a measurable schedule delay;
- The full list of charges and the contents of any probable-cause affidavits for Fulks;
- Defense statements, court rulings, plea decisions or trial results; and
- Any restitution order or insurance determination.
Until prosecutors prove the allegations, the reported arrests and investigative findings do not establish criminal liability. Project-impact figures should likewise be treated as unresolved rather than as a final bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Indiana counties are involved in the alleged copper thefts?
The reported investigation covers construction activity in Vanderburgh, Posey and Warrick counties. The work included an INDOT lighting contract associated with the I-69/I-64 interchange in southwest Indiana.
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The figures came from separate reports quoting estimates rather than a published final audit. One report used a crew estimate above $367,000, while another gave a figure above $360,000, so the numbers describe the same reported loss at different levels of precision.
What happens after a Level 5 felony charge is filed in Indiana?
A defendant generally proceeds through an initial hearing, probable-cause review and further court dates where evidence, release conditions and representation are addressed. The case can end in dismissal, a negotiated plea or trial; a charge alone does not determine the outcome.
Could the public be responsible for replacing the stolen copper?
The available statements do not identify who will pay. Responsibility could depend on the construction contract, insurance coverage, project accounting and any restitution order, none of which had been disclosed in the reported coverage.
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