A Georgia state representative was arrested Monday after a federal grand jury indicted her on charges related to pandemic unemployment fraud. Sharon Henderson, who represents District 113 in the state House of Representatives, faces two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. Henderson is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin Anand on Monday to enter a not-guilty plea.
Court documents indicate that in 2020, while running for her state House seat, Henderson applied for federal pandemic unemployment benefits and claimed that Henry County Schools was her employer at the time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that she had only worked as a substitute teacher for five days in 2018 and had not been employed by the district since then. Henderson allegedly submitted paystubs from 2019 and claimed her workplace was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also reportedly submitted weekly certifications stating she could not reach her workplace because of a COVID-19 quarantine.
According to prosecutors, Henderson collected just over $17,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits. U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said, “It is shocking that a public official would allegedly lie to profit from an emergency program designed to help suffering community members. Politicians who violate the public trust and steal from the needy to enrich themselves will be held accountable.”
Henderson was sworn into office in January 2021. District 113 covers western Newton County and parts of Covington.
