Kimberly Harris, a 49-year-old woman from Columbia, was arrested for her involvement in a fraudulent scheme that stole thousands in pandemic assistance funds. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced her arrest on charges including first-degree computer crime, forgery, insurance fraud, and breach of trust.
Harris, who worked as an analyst for the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) until 2020, allegedly exploited the unemployment benefits system during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, the DEW requested an investigation from the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, which then referred the case to SLED in April 2021. The fraudulent activities occurred between January and September 2020.
According to arrest warrants, Harris used the personal information of family members, friends, and acquaintances to falsely file unemployment claims. She claimed these individuals were self-employed and had their businesses shut down due to the pandemic, fraudulently receiving more than $10,000 in benefits. The exact total amount of stolen funds was not disclosed, though one warrant suggested it was less than $50,000. It remains unclear what Harris did with the money.
The charges against Harris include using a computer system to execute a scheme to defraud, forging documents, and making false statements to obtain undeserved benefits. She was arrested on February 13 and booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. A $50,000 bond was posted the following day, and Harris is no longer listed as an inmate.
Harris’ case will be prosecuted by a special prosecutor assigned to the state employment department. Columbia attorney Todd Rutherford, also a prominent state lawmaker, was previously identified as her attorney.
