{"id":2530482,"date":"2026-01-06T11:19:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T16:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-georgia-lawmaker-indicted-on-covid-19-fraud-scheme\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T11:20:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T16:20:10","slug":"former-georgia-lawmaker-indicted-on-covid-19-fraud-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-georgia-lawmaker-indicted-on-covid-19-fraud-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Georgia lawmaker indicted on COVID-19 fraud scheme"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-georgia-lawmaker-indicted-on-covid-19-fraud-scheme%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2530482&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A former Georgia state representative, Karen Bennett, was indicted by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/missouri-man-charged-with-threatening-to-murder-2-us-congressmen\/\" title=\"Missouri Man Charged With Threatening to Murder 2 US Congressmen\">federal grand jury<\/a> on one count of making false statements in connection with a COVID-19 unemployment fraud scheme after allegedly collecting roughly $14,000 in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-wont-push-pandemic-unemployment-bonus-extension\/\" title=\"Biden Administration Won\u2019t Push ... Unemployment Bonus Extension\">pandemic-era benefits<\/a>. Prosecutors say she falsely claimed to provide in-home physical therapy through her company, Metro Therapy Providers, adn that pandemic restrictions prevented her from working; they allege her actual role was administrative and she continued working from a home office while therapists provided services. Federal authorities also allege she failed to report other income, including more than $900 per week from a church and about $300 per week from the Georgia General Assembly. bennett pleaded not guilty, was released on a $10,000 bond, and retired from her House seat at the start of the year; a special election will be called to fill the vacancy. She is the second Georgia Democratic lawmaker recently charged in connection with pandemic unemployment fraud.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Former Georgia lawmaker indicted on COVID-19 fraud scheme<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2464209\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\/\">Georgia<\/a> Democratic lawmaker has been indicted after her involvement in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/covid-19\/\">COVID-19<\/a> fraud scheme, nearly six years after receiving roughly $14,000 in pandemic-era unemployment benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Former Georgia state Rep. Karen Bennett was charged with one count of making false statements in connection with the scheme after a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >federal grand jury issued<\/a> the indictment on Monday. She pleaded not guilty to the charge.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4407936\/watch-live-house-democrats-hold-hearing-marking-january-6-anniversary\/\">WATCH LIVE: House Democrats hold hearing marking Jan. 6 anniversary<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4406688\/secret-service-suspect-arrested-break-in-vance-cincinnati-home\/\">Secret Service says suspect arrested after man with hammer attacked Vance&#8217;s Cincinnati home<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4400822\/flabbergasted-washington-daycare-owner\/\">&#8216;Flabbergasted&rsquo; WA daycare owner frustrated over alleged Somali fraud in industry<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Bennett is the second Georgia Democrat to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/conservative-charged-with-election-interference-for-social-media-post\/\" title=\"Conservative charged with election interference for social media post\">face federal charges<\/a> for allegedly exploiting the COVID-19 relief program. Georgia state Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-ndga\/pr\/georgia-state-representative-charged-pandemic-unemployment-fraud\">Sharon Henderson was charged<\/a> last month.<\/p>\n<p>In the latter case, federal prosecutors accuse Bennett of lying on her application for COVID-19 unemployment relief. She claimed her job included providing in-home physical therapy at her company, Metro Therapy Providers, and that she was unable to perform her job because of pandemic guidance. Prosecutors said she was able to work without a problem.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Before the pandemic her actual role with Metro Therapy was an administrative one and she worked from her home office; she did not provide in-home services for clients,&rdquo; the court document says. &ldquo;She was not prohibited from reaching her home office because of the pandemic. She was able to continue working as usual from her home to support Metro Therapy throughout the pandemic, and the therapists who provided actual services to clients were able to continue their work after a brief disruption.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, prosecutors alleged she did not fully report her income by failing to disclose separate employment through a church that paid her over $900 each week while she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/most-states-didnt-report-covid-lost-wage-fraud\/\" title=\"Most ...s Didn\u2019t ... COVID Lost Wage Fraud\">received unemployment benefits<\/a>. She also earned $300 per week from the Georgia General Assembly during this period.<\/p>\n<p>After pleading not guilty, the defendant was released from jail on a $10,000 bond.<\/p>\n<p>At the start of the new year, Bennett retired from her seat. She did not provide a reason for her departure.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4407227\/califraudia-report-losses-250-billion\/\">&lsquo;CALIFRAUDIA&rsquo; REPORT PUTS STATE FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE LOSSES AT $250 BILLION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It has been a distinct honor to serve the people of Georgia and the constituents of the 94th House District,&rdquo; Bennett wrote in a letter to Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/brian-kemp\/\">Brian Kemp<\/a> (R-GA). &ldquo;I am proud of the work accomplished by the Georgia General Assembly when we came together to advance policies that strengthened our state and improved the lives of all Georgians. Serving in this capacity has truly been a labor of love, and one I will deeply miss.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>At some point, Kemp will declare a special election to fill Bennett&rsquo;s vacant seat. The retired lawmaker was first elected in 2012 to represent the Georgia district that covers parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties near Atlanta.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former Georgia lawmaker charged in COVID fraud<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2530483,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP774158399248.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[70216,4977,15074],"class_list":["post-2530482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-covid-19-fraud","tag-georgia","tag-indictment"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP774158399248.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2530482"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2530486,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530482\/revisions\/2530486"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2530483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2530482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2530482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2530482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}