A federal grand jury has indicted Sharon Henderson, a Georgia state representative from Covington, on charges of stealing over $17,000 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits by making false claims related to the COVID-19 emergency. The allegations indicate that she fraudulently obtained funds intended for those adversely affected by the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Henderson, who joined the Georgia House in 2021, applied for federal unemployment programs in mid-2020 while campaigning for office. According to investigators, she falsely asserted during her applications that she had been unemployed due to COVID-19 related reasons. In reality, Henderson’s employment situation was misrepresented; it is alleged that she had only served a brief period as a substitute teacher in 2018, and even acknowledged at the time that substitute teachers were not eligible for unemployment benefits.
Prosecutors reported that Henderson allegedly submitted multiple fraudulent weekly certifications to continue receiving benefits. These certifications falsely claimed her inability to work due to COVID-19 quarantines or restrictions, including eight submissions after officially being sworn into office in 2021. This allowed authorities to calculate she collected nearly $17,811 from the system.
Federal agencies emphasized that Henderson’s actions constitute fraud on an emergency relief program meant for those genuinely suffering economic hardship during the pandemic. Law enforcement officials noted that her case exemplifies abuse of public funds and underscores their commitment to investigating such violations against taxpayer-funded safety nets designed specifically for vulnerable individuals facing job loss due to COVID-19.
The investigation involves multiple agencies including the FBI, Department of Labor Inspector General’s Office, and local state investigators. Henderson is expected to appear in court soon regarding the charges.
