Sharon Henderson, Pandemic Unemployment Fraud, Georgia 2020

ATLANTA, Georgia – A shocking case of corruption has unfolded in the state of Georgia, with a sitting state representative at the center of it. Sharon Henderson, a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, has been arrested and charged with two counts of theft of government funds and ten counts of making false statements.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Henderson allegedly applied for federal pandemic unemployment benefits claiming that her current employer was Henry County Schools. Although Henderson had worked as a substitute teacher for Henry County Schools for five days in 2018, she had not worked for the school system since then. Despite this, she allegedly stated in the application that she had worked for the school system throughout 2019 and as recently as March 10, 2020.

Henderson then allegedly submitted weekly certifications stating that she was unable to reach her place of employment because of a COVID-19 quarantine. She allegedly submitted eight of those certifications in June 2021, after she was sworn in and serving as the state representative for District 113, which covers western Newton County and part of Covington, Georgia.

“It is shocking that a public official would allegedly lie to profit from an emergency program designed to help suffering community members,” said United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Politicians who violate the public trust and steal from the needy to enrich themselves will be held accountable.”

As a result of her alleged false statements, Henderson allegedly collected $17,811 of pandemic unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled. She is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand at 1:00 p.m. today and is expected to enter a not-guilty plea.

The indictment serves as a stark reminder that nobody is above the law, especially Georgia’s elected officials. This case highlights the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions and ensuring that those who abuse their position of power are brought to justice.

Henderson’s alleged actions not only undermine the public’s trust in government but also divert resources away from those who genuinely need them. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protecting the integrity of government programs and ensuring that those who would seek to exploit them are held accountable.

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