Georgia Rep. Sharon Henderson Charged with Fraud

Sharon Henderson, a Democratic state representative for Georgia (country)'s District 113, has been federally charged with two counts of theft of government funds and ten counts of making false statements. Investigators allege that Sharon Henderson fraudulently collected $17,811 in federal pandemic unemployment benefits between 2020 and 2021. She allegedly claimed to be employed by Henry County Schools as recently as March 2020, despite having only worked as a substitute teacher for five days in 2018 and acknowledging in her hiring paperwork that substitutes are ineligible for unemployment benefits. Sharon Henderson reportedly filed weekly certifications, including eight in June 2021 after being sworn into office, stating she could not reach her workplace due to COVID-19 quarantine. The case is being investigated by the United States — Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Georgia (country) Office of the State Inspector General, and United States — Harris County District Attorney s Office. Sharon Henderson is scheduled to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge and is expected to plead not guilty.