Sharper, a Valdosta Democrat, became the third Georgia lawmaker accused by federal prosecutors of lying to collect pandemic unemployment benefits, according to the AP report. Prosecutors said the charges stem from claims Sharper made while seeking aid that was intended for people who lost work due to COVID-19.
Federal prosecutors announced Friday they were charging state Rep. Dexter Sharper with making false statements to collect $13,825 in unemployment benefits. Prosecutors said Sharper, who represents a South Georgia district, indicated on his application that he was employed only by his party rental business and that he had not worked there since March 13, 2020.
In the same case, prosecutors said Sharper submitted 38 weekly certifications asserting that he was not earning money and was looking for work. Prosecutors said that, contrary to those weekly claims, Sharper was earning money from two to three jobs per week.
Prosecutors alleged that Sharper was earning $325 a week as a state representative and up to $275 per week working as a musician, while also saying his party rental business generated $2,231 per week. Prosecutors tied those allegations to the way he characterized his employment and earnings in the certifications he submitted to receive the pandemic unemployment benefit.
U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg addressed the case in a statement accompanying the federal announcement. He said, “While many of his constituents and fellow citizens were losing jobs and desperately needed unemployment assistance during the pandemic, Representative Sharper allegedly pretended to be out of work to collect a share of unemployment benefits for himself,” and he added, “When government officials lie to take money, and do it while holding an elected office, it violates the trust of citizens and weakens faith in our elected government.”
Sharper declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation, the AP report said. The report did not indicate whether he would resign from the House.
Federal prosecutors have also brought similar charges in Georgia in recent months. In December, prosecutors announced that Democratic Rep. Sharon Henderson of Covington had been indicted on two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements, with prosecutors alleging she illegally collected $17,811 in unemployment benefits. In January, prosecutors filed charges against Democratic Rep. Karen Bennett of Stone Mountain, accusing her of one count of making false statements to collect $13,940.
The AP report described the broader federal approach to pandemic unemployment benefits: the federal government paid special unemployment benefits using state systems to people who lost jobs due to COVID-19, and applicants had to certify each week that they remained unemployed to claim benefits.