by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman
January 6, 2026
Forward of her indictment, Bennett resigned from her place throughout the Georgia Normal Meeting.
One other Georgia lawmaker has been indicted on pandemic fraud expenses.
State Rep. Karen Bennett, a Democrat who represents the Stone Mountain space inside Metro Atlanta, was indicted Jan. 5 by a federal grand jury for defrauding pandemic unemployment help. Bennett allegedly used authorities payouts she was not legally entitled to for her in-house bodily remedy firm.
In response to WSB-TV, prosecutors argued that Bennett acquired $13,940 for her enterprise, Metro Remedy Suppliers, on claims that it couldn’t function because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, additional investigation found that the corporate remained open through the international well being disaster. The enterprise solely shut down for a short time.
Regardless of persevering with to service shoppers, Bennett allegedly lied on her Pandemic Unemployment Help program software. In Georgia, this system offered unemployment advantages for as much as 79 weeks for individuals who couldn’t work as a result of COVID-19.
CBS Information reported that Bennett first submitted her falsified software in April 2020 and continued to obtain checks by means of August. She initially utilized for unemployment insurance coverage, but was denied. She later acquired help by means of the newly established PUA program, claiming that quarantine restrictions had stunted her work.
In her preliminary claims, Bennett falsely said that she acquired no pay from her enterprise or from her work within the Georgia legislature. Whereas prosecutors declare that Bennett licensed she made solely $300 one week, she truly introduced in roughly $1,200.
She additionally acquired funds from a church, totaling over $900 per week. The fraud indictment went past claims that she wrongly used the advantages, because the occasion additionally led to 1 rely of falsifying statements.
The information additionally follows one other state consultant who was arrested and charged for taking hundreds in pandemic unemployment claims. The lawmaker, Covington Rep. Sharon Henderson, reportedly took $17,000 from the PUA program.
Upon her indictment, Bennett was launched on a $10,000 bond. Earlier than the indictment, Bennett resigned from her position serving Home District 94 in a letter addressed to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, despatched Dec. 31.
“It has been a definite honor to serve the folks of Georgia and the constituents of the 94th Home District,” Bennett wrote. “I’m happy with the work completed by the Georgia Normal Meeting after we got here collectively to advance insurance policies that strengthened our state and improved the lives of all Georgians. Serving on this capability has really been a labor of affection, and one I’ll deeply miss.”
If convicted, Bennett could need to return the funds wrongfully earned from this system. If she can not repay, the authorities might additionally search to have property forfeited to repay the debt.
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