Georgia Democrat Indicted for Alleged Pandemic Unemployment Fraud

A sitting Georgia state lawmaker is now facing federal criminal charges after prosecutors say he fraudulently collected thousands of dollars in pandemic unemployment benefits while continuing to earn income from multiple sources — including his taxpayer-funded salary.

Georgia State Rep. Dexter Sharper, a Democrat, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging he illegally obtained more than $13,000 in COVID-era unemployment assistance while operating a private business, working as a substitute teacher, and serving as an elected legislator.

The indictment, announced Friday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, makes Sharper the third Georgia Democrat in recent months to face federal charges related to abuse of pandemic relief programs — underscoring what prosecutors say was widespread exploitation of emergency aid intended for struggling Americans.

According to federal prosecutors, Sharper submitted 38 weekly certifications between April 2020 and May 2021 to the Georgia Department of Labor, falsely claiming he was unemployed, had no income, and was actively seeking work. Those certifications allowed him to collect $13,825 in emergency unemployment benefits funded through the CARES Act.

Investigators say those claims were flatly untrue.

Justice Department records show Sharper continued operating his business, Dexter Sharper Party Rental, throughout the same period. He also received his annual legislative salary of approximately $17,000 and earned additional income as a substitute teacher with Lowndes County Schools.

Federal authorities allege that Sharper routinely earned wages from two — and at times three — income streams during the very weeks he certified under penalty of perjury that he had no employment. Prosecutors described the conduct as “knowing and willful deception” of both state and federal agencies.

Sharper, 54, was arraigned Friday in Atlanta before U.S. Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard. The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office and the Georgia Office of the State Inspector General as part of a broader federal crackdown on COVID-19 relief fraud under the Trump administration’s Justice Department.

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said Sharper abused both his position and the public trust.

Sharper “allegedly exploited his position for personal gain and took money intended for those who truly suffered financial hardship during a national crisis,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan warned that pandemic-related fraud has lasting consequences.

Pandemic-era fraud, he said, “undermines trust in government and deprives honest Americans of the help they were promised.”

Sharper has represented Georgia’s 177th District, centered in Valdosta, since his election in 2016. Prior to entering politics, he was active in local business and education circles — credentials that now stand in stark contrast to the allegations outlined in the indictment.

The charges place Sharper’s political future in serious jeopardy.

His case follows a growing list of Georgia Democrats accused of misusing COVID relief funds. Earlier this month, former Democratic State Rep. Karen Bennett pleaded guilty to falsifying information to obtain unemployment benefits. In December, Democratic Rep. Sharon Henderson was indicted on federal theft and false statement charges and was subsequently suspended by Republican Governor Brian Kemp pending trial.

Federal officials have repeatedly warned that unemployment assistance programs were among the most heavily exploited pandemic relief efforts, with improper payments nationwide totaling tens of billions of dollars. Specialized task forces were created to investigate fraud and recover stolen taxpayer funds.

Legal analysts note that elected officials face heightened consequences if convicted, as abuse of public office can lead to enhanced penalties. Sharper could face prison time, mandatory restitution, and permanent disqualification from holding public office in Georgia.

Neither Sharper nor his attorneys have issued a public response. As the case moves forward, it is expected to draw heightened scrutiny amid continued revelations of pandemic-era fraud — and growing demands for accountability when public officials are accused of enriching themselves at taxpayers’ expense.