Democratic Georgia State Representative Sharon Henderson was arrested Monday and charged with two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements related to pandemic unemployment benefits.

The federal grand jury indictment alleges that Henderson fraudulently collected $17,811 in COVID-19 unemployment assistance between 2020 and 2021. Henderson, who represents District 113 covering western Newton County and part of Covington, is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand on Monday afternoon and is expected to enter a not-guilty plea.

Henderson allegedly filed for benefits while campaigning for her Georgia House seat and continued submitting false certifications even after being sworn into office in January 2021. The prosecution is part of the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force established in May 2021 to combat pandemic-related fraud.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Henderson applied for federal pandemic unemployment benefits in June 2020, claiming Henry County Schools as her current employer.

Prosecutors allege that she had worked only five days as a substitute teacher in 2018 and had not been employed by the school system since. The Substitute Teacher Agreement Henderson signed in 2018 explicitly stated that substitute teachers are not eligible for unemployment wages.

Henderson allegedly stated in her application that she worked for Henry County Schools throughout 2019 and as recently as March 10, 2020, claiming her workplace closed because of the COVID-19 emergency. She then reportedly submitted weekly certifications stating she couldn’t reach her workplace because of COVID-19 quarantine. Eight of those certifications were allegedly filed in June 2021, after Henderson had already been sworn in as a state representative.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Georgia Office of the State Inspector General and DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford is prosecuting.

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

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown: “Sharon Henderson allegedly chose greed over compassion by fraudulently obtaining funds meant to help those in need, some in her own Georgia House district. We remain committed to find those who take advantage of federal programs meant to help those truly in need.”

Georgia State Inspector General Nigel Lange: “Nobody is above the law, especially Georgia’s elected officials. This indictment should send a clear message that theft of government funds intended for qualified citizens will not be tolerated.”

Mathew Broadhurst, special agent in charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General: “An important part of the mission of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud involving unemployment insurance programs. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate these types of allegations.”

Henderson is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and the government bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. The case will proceed through federal court after with Henderson’s initial appearance on Monday afternoon.

Anyone with information about COVID-19-related fraud can contact the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.