Georgia legislator indicted for unemployment fraud; prosecutor says more inquiries ongoing

ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia state House member is accused of lying about her employment to collect federal unemployment benefits during the pandemic.

Rep. Sharon Henderson, a Covington Democrat, has been indicted on two counts of theft of government funds and ten counts of making false statements, prosecutors announced Monday.

Henderson was arrested at her home Monday by federal agents. Led into a federal courtroom in Atlanta in leg shackles, she pleaded not guilty in an initial appearance. She declined comment to The Associated Press after she was released from custody on $10,000 bail.

U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg told WABE-FM that more Georgia lawmakers are being investigated for fraudulently obtaining unemployment payments from COVID-10 relief programs.

“There are more investigations that we’re engaged in and there are more indictments that are likely to follow of people currently serving in the Georgia state House,” Hertzberg told the radio station.

Henderson is accused of illegally collecting $17,811 in unemployment benefits. Hertzberg said in a statement that Henderson falsely claimed in 2019 that she was entitled to benefits as a laid off substitute teacher in Henry County, southeast of Atlanta. But Hertzberg said Henderson hadn't worked for the school system since 2018 and her contract included an acknowledgment that substitute teachers aren't entitled to unemployment payments.

Prosecutors say Henderson falsely claimed that she had worked for the school system throughout 2019 and into 2020 and then submitted weekly certifications, including eight in June 2021, after she had won election and was sworn into office in House District 13, which covers parts of Newton County.

The federal government paid special unemployment benefits during the pandemic, using state unemployment systems, to people who lost their jobs due to COVID-19. As with regular unemployment benefits, applicants had to certify every week that they remained unemployed to claim benefits.

“We expect that our public officials and individuals who have been entrusted by the public to serve in elected office are not going to lie in order to steal money from people who are needy,” Hertzberg told WABE-FM.

State and federal agencies investigated the case.

Under the state constitution, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp must now appoint a review commission composed of the attorney general, one member of the Senate and one member of the House to determine whether Henderson should be suspended from office after the indictment.

If the commission, after a hearing, recommends suspension, Kemp must suspend Henderson without pay until her charges are resolved. If Henderson isn't convicted, she would be reinstated to office.