A Georgia state representative faces federal charges for allegedly claiming pandemic unemployment while holding paid work, collecting roughly $13,825 in benefits for weeks he reported no earnings.
Federal prosecutors say Dexter L. Sharper, a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from Valdosta, applied for emergency pandemic unemployment assistance for April 2020 through May 2021 and certified he was out of work for 38 separate weeks. Authorities allege those weekly certifications falsely stated he was not working, actively seeking work, and not refusing offers. The case claims he collected $13,825 intended for struggling workers.
Investigators say Sharper listed only one employer, Dexter Sharper Party Rental, on his application and claimed that business had not operated since March 13, 2020 despite earning income. Records cited in charging documents reportedly show the party rental business brought in as much as $2,231 per week while Sharper also received other paid work. Prosecutors allege he was earning money from multiple sources at the same time he certified unemployment.
According to filings, Sharper received at least $325 every week from the Georgia General Assembly for his role as a state representative, and he also earned up to $275 per week performing as a musician. The complaint states he worked and earned money from at least two, and sometimes three, jobs during many of the weeks he claimed benefits. Those overlapping earnings are at the core of the alleged false statements to obtain funds administered by the U.S. Department of Labor.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. That charge accuses an elected official of betraying public trust by seeking relief intended for those genuinely out of work. Federal prosecutors have emphasized that the case will proceed through the courts.
“These charges point to some disgraceful conduct at the highest level, which should shock and repulse every citizen”, said Georgia State Inspector General Nigel Lange. The state inspector general described the allegations as an abuse of office and a misuse of relief money earmarked for desperate families and workers. State and federal offices are coordinating the investigative effort.
Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor, said, “Dexter L. Sharper, while serving as an elected member of the Georgia House of Representatives, is alleged to have unlawfully enriched himself by improperly obtaining taxpayer funds from the unemployment insurance program intended to assist American workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own.” The DOL Office of Inspector General is part of the investigative team, which also includes the FBI and the Georgia Office of the State Inspector General. The inquiry seeks accountability for alleged exploitation of pandemic-era relief programs.
“Nobody is above the law, including elected officials,” said FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Peter Ellis. “Those who violate the public trust and steal from taxpayers to fill their own pockets will be held accountable.” Sharper, 54, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard on federal charges of making false statements to obtain Department of Labor-administered funds. The criminal process will determine guilt or innocence.
Federal filings describe 38 weekly certifications in which Sharper stated he had not worked or earned wages, was actively looking for work, and had not refused any work. Prosecutors contrast those assertions with evidence that the party rental business remained operative and that Sharper accepted compensation from other roles. The alleged pattern of certifications and concurrent earnings forms the factual basis for the indictment.
The complaint places Sharper alongside two other Georgia state representatives who faced pandemic-benefits fraud allegations earlier. Karen L. Bennett, formerly of District 94, pleaded guilty on January 21, 2026, to making false statements after receiving $13,940 in pandemic benefits. Sharon Henderson, of District 113, was federally indicted on December 2, 2025, for theft of government funds and making false statements after allegedly receiving $17,811 in pandemic benefits.
The investigation names the Georgia Office of the State Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office as participants. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford is prosecuting the case in the Northern District of Georgia. The filings reference broader federal efforts established during the pandemic to detect and deter fraud against relief programs.
Authorities note that applicants had to certify weekly that they were unemployed and actively seeking work to receive emergency pandemic compensation. Anyone with information related to pandemic-related fraud has been encouraged to contact the appropriate investigative offices or use designated complaint channels such as the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline at 866-720-5721 or the NCDF complaint form. The case remains under active investigation and will move through the judicial system.
