Georgia lawmaker charged with unemployment fraud

Monday, December 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM

A Georgia state representative is accused of fraudulently collecting $17,811 in unemployment benefits after allegedly applying for a federal program meant to support people who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday. Rep. Sharon Henderson, a Covington Democrat whose district spans a western portion of Newton County, […]

Rep. Sharon Henderson, a Covington Democrat whose district spans a western portion of Newton County, was charged with two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Rep. Sharon Henderson, a Covington Democrat whose district spans a western portion of Newton County, was charged with two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements.

Henderson was scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin Anand on Monday afternoon. She did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The program, which was established by Congress in 2020, provided cash assistance to those experiencing unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants were required to submit weekly certifications providing the reason they were unemployed and stating that they were actively looking for work.

Prosecutors say Henderson applied for the program during June 2020, when she was a candidate for the Georgia House of Representatives, falsely claiming that she had been an employee of the Henry County School District in 2019 and 2020, and was laid off due to the pandemic.

In reality, authorities say Henderson had only spent five days working for Henry County Schools as a substitute teacher in 2018, and had not worked there since. Additionally, the substitute teaching contract she signed included an acknowledgement that she was not eligible for unemployment benefits.

Henderson allegedly submitted eight certifications in June 2021, after she was sworn in as an elected official.

Henderson was first elected to represent House District 113 in 2020, defeating incumbent Democrat Pam Dickerson during the primary. She was reelected in 2022 and 2024 without Republican opposition and is currently in the middle of her third term.

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