(The Center Square) – A Georgia state representative who did not report his pay as a state lawmaker and other income when he collected $13,825 in pandemic unemployment benefits pleaded guilty to making false statements, federal prosecutors said.
Valdosta Democrat Dexter Sharper was making $361 or $325 a week for his service in the Georgia General Assembly, but did not disclose that amount when he filed for the benefits, according to an indictment in U.S. District Court. He also said he was not working at Dexter Sharper Party Rental but had made up to over $2,000 a week, prosecutors said.
Sharper pleaded on Wednesday, just days after he resigned his seat in the House of Representatives. Prosecutors are not recommending jail time but are ordering Sharper to pay $10,096 in restitution to the Georgia Department of Labor, according to court documents. He will be sentenced on June 21.
Federal prosecutors filed charges against two other lawmakers in cases related to pandemic unemployment fraud.
Former Georgia state Rep. Karen Bennett pleaded guilty in January to false statements in connection with pandemic unemployment benefits.
The Stone Mountain Democrat collected nearly $14,000 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits but failed to disclose $905 a week she received while working for a church, according to the federal indictment.
She will pay full restitution to the Georgia Department of Labor if a sentencing recommendation is approved at an April 15 hearing, according to federal court documents. Bennett resigned in January.
Gov. Brian Kemp suspended Covington Democrat Sharon Henderson after she was charged in December with two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements.
Henderson first filed for federal pandemic unemployment benefits in June 2020 during her campaign for her Georgia House seat. She said on the application that she was employed by Henry County Schools, according to prosecutors.
“Although Henderson had worked as a substitute teacher for Henry County Schools for five days in 2018 (almost two years prior), she had not worked for Henry County Schools since then,” the release said. “Additionally, the Substitute Teacher Agreement Henderson signed in 2018 included an acknowledgment that substitute teachers are not eligible to draw unemployment wages.”
Henderson qualified to run for the Georgia Senate seat currently held by Democrat Tonya Anderson.