Georgia State Rep. Sharon Henderson Arrested for Stealing Pandemic Aid

ATLANTA – Georgia State Representative Sharon Henderson was arrested Tuesday after a federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment accusing her of stealing pandemic unemployment benefits and lying repeatedly to secure federal aid she was not entitled to. She is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand at 1 p.m., where she is anticipated to enter a not-guilty plea.

Federal prosecutors say Henderson, now serving as the elected representative for District 113, began applying for pandemic unemployment benefits in June 2020 while she was still a political candidate. At the time, millions of people nationwide were out of work due to COVID-19 shutdowns, prompting Congress to create temporary unemployment programs with expanded eligibility and weekly federal payments.

According to the indictment, Henderson claimed she had been working for Henry County Schools and became unemployed because the school system shut down due to the pandemic. Investigators say those statements were false. Henderson had last worked for the district in 2018, serving only five days as a substitute teacher. The Substitute Teacher Agreement she signed that year also stated that substitute teachers were not eligible to receive unemployment wages.

Despite that, prosecutors allege Henderson reported that she had worked for the school system throughout 2019 and into March 2020, claimed she had recent paystubs to prove it, and stated the workplace closure was caused by COVID-19. Investigators say she later submitted weekly certifications that her unemployment continued because she was unable to go to work due to quarantine. Eight of those weekly filings allegedly came in June 2021, months after she was sworn in as a state lawmaker.

Federal officials say Henderson fraudulently collected $17,811 in federal benefits before the alleged scheme was uncovered.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg criticized the conduct described in the indictment, saying it was “shocking that a public official would allegedly lie to profit from an emergency program designed to help suffering community members.” FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown echoed that sentiment, noting that Henderson’s district included residents who were struggling during the pandemic. “We remain committed to find those who take advantage of federal programs meant to help those truly in need,” he said.

The indictment also includes ten counts of making false statements, reflecting each alleged false claim made to qualify for or maintain benefits.

Georgia State Inspector General Nigel Lange called the case an important reminder that “nobody is above the law, especially Georgia’s elected officials.” Officials with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General said their agency would continue targeting fraud in unemployment insurance programs, which saw historic levels of abuse nationwide during the pandemic.

The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, the Department of Labor OIG, the Georgia Office of the State Inspector General, and the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford is prosecuting the case.

Henderson, like all defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.