A second Georgia lawmaker has been accused of defrauding taxpayers by accepting pandemic unemployment assistance she was not entitled to.
A federal grand jury indicted state Rep. Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain) on Monday.
Prosecutors said she collected $13,940 for her home physical therapy business, Metro Therapy Providers, which she said was unable to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
[READ: State representative steps down ‘effective immediately’ citing issues rebuilding home after Helene]
However, investigators said the company closed only briefly and remained open for most of the pandemic.
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In her filing, Bennett reported only income from Metro Therapy and the Georgia General Assembly. But she failed to disclose that she was also employed by a church and earned more than $900 a week.
She was indicted on one count of making false statements.
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Rep. Sharon Henderson, D-Covington, was arrested and indicted by a federal grand jury last month on charges of defrauding her of $17,000 amid pandemic unemployment.
It’s unclear how the indictment will affect Bennett’s position.
Bennett was later released on $10,000 bail.
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