The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Jan. 30 that Dexter L. Sharper, a former Georgia State Representative, was charged with making false statements to obtain $13,825 in pandemic unemployment assistance while allegedly working multiple jobs and serving in the Georgia House.
The case marks the third time a Georgia State Representative has faced charges related to pandemic unemployment fraud, highlighting ongoing concerns about misuse of federal relief programs by public officials.
According to the Justice Department, Sharper allegedly sought unemployment benefits from April 2020 through May 2021 and filed 38 weekly certifications claiming he had not worked, had earned no wages, and was seeking work. Prosecutors say those statements were false because he was allegedly drawing income from the Georgia General Assembly, his party-rental business, and music work, resulting in nearly $14,000 in benefits he was not entitled to receive.
Georgia Recorder reported in March 2026 that three Georgia Democratic lawmakers were accused in federal pandemic-unemployment fraud cases tied to relief programs. The outlet said former Rep. Dexter Sharper of Valdosta pleaded guilty, while Rep. Karen Bennett of Stone Mountain and Rep. Sharon Henderson of Covington were also accused in related cases.
Rep. Karen Bennett resigned effective January 1, 2026, before being charged by authorities with fraudulently receiving nearly $14,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits. Bennett allegedly claimed she could not do her job because of the pandemic while continuing to work from home and holding other employment, according to the Georgia Recorder. In another case, Rep. Sharon Henderson was accused of collecting $17,811 in unemployment benefits after allegedly misrepresenting her work history and claiming she had lost employment because of COVID-19. The same report said Gov. Brian Kemp suspended her from office on January 22, 2026, after a panel found her indictment harmed the public interest. She later qualified to run for a state Senate seat.
WABE reported that U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg expects more government officials to face similar charges as pandemic-fraud investigations continue. He said people “at every level,” including state, local, county, and federal government took advantage of the programs and predicted additional public officials would be charged in coming months. He framed the Georgia lawmaker cases as part of a broader accountability push rather than isolated incidents.