Hattiesburg Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraud in State Benefit Program
Sharccara McNair sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution
State Auditor Shad White announced that Sharccara McNair, a former business owner from Hattiesburg, has pleaded guilty to committing fraud related to a state-funded benefit program. McNair fraudulently submitted certifications to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) to collect unemployment benefits while she was employed as a tax preparer.
Auditor White thanked the staff at MDES for alerting authorities to the fraudulent activity, and expressed appreciation for the efforts of investigators and prosecutors in resolving the case.
McNair was prosecuted in the 12th District Circuit Court, where she was sentenced to three years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with the sentence suspended in favor of one year of unsupervised probation. Additionally, McNair was ordered to repay $15,604 in restitution, pay a $1,000 fine, and contribute $200 to the victims’ compensation fund.
The State Auditor’s office encourages anyone with knowledge of fraud to report it through their website or by calling 1-(800)-321-1275 during business hours.
