Former employee threatened boss with secret letter, claims of damaging pictures

An Indianapolis man received a troubling letter that was found on the windshield of his car.

The two-page letter, containing a mix of typed and handwritten instructions, demanded $15,000. Failure to pay would result in the release of damaging information.

The unidentified writer claimed to have pictures showing marital infidelity and to possess proof of insurance fraud. 

The victim, who owns a business, was told to respond by tweeting a certain message from his company's account. Then he needed to send a text message to a number listed in the letter. 

He had 24 hours. 

But the victim's first action wasn't to comply with the demands, according to federal court records. Instead, he called his brother-in-law, who contacted the FBI on Dec. 18. 

The FBI asked the victim to tweet the instructed message. Then, posing as the victim, agents sent a text message to the letter-writer's phone number. 

The writer demanded the money be stored in a specific leather backpack and dropped behind the Vitamin Shoppe on East 82nd Street in the Castleton area.

He also said he knew the location of the victim's stolen 2013 Jeep Wrangler, which went missing about two days before the letter. 

An undercover FBI agent carried the backpack, filled with a magazine and a $1 bill, to the drop location. He texted the writer. The writer responded with the location of the stolen Jeep. 

After the undercover agent left, federal court records say, a man circled his car in the area. Then he left the car, picked up the bag and placed it in the car. 

FBI agents, waiting in unmarked cars, swooped in and arrested the man. 

The man was later identified as Benjamin Bulriss, a former employee of the victim, according to court records. 

Bulriss, who graduated with a bachelor's degree and MBA from Indiana University, worked for the victim's company in the accounting department for three months, records say, but a permanent position did not become available. 

While working for the victim's company, Bulriss discovered what he thought was evidence of insurance fraud, records say. He told the FBI that he decided to use that information to extort the victim.

The FBI didn't believe any insurance fraud occurred. 

Bulriss also told the FBI that he never possessed any pictures, according to court records.

Bulriss told investigators that he needed the money to pay off credit card debt, court records say. 

He admitted to stealing the Jeep Wrangler, which he found at the victim's house, unlocked with the keys inside. 

He also said he disguised his phone number by using a phone app that revealed a different area code, records say. 

If convicted, Bulriss faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. 

While his case proceeds, Bulriss has agreed to live at his mother's home in New York. 

Call IndyStar reporter Ryan Martin at (317) 444-6294. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter: @ryanmartin.