State Rep. Karen Bennett, who prosecutors earlier this month said improperly took pandemic relief money, pleaded guilty in federal court in Atlanta Wednesday to a felony charge of making a false statement.
Authorities said the Stone Mountain Democrat, who resigned from office before the announcement of the charges, collected $13,940 in federal unemployment benefits and supplements in 2020 after falsely stating that the COVID-19 pandemic prevented her from working.
She initially pleaded not guilty but filed to change her plea shortly thereafter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford said the government is recommending Bennett pay back the full amount she took, plus $100 in administrative fees. Bradford did not ask that Bennett serve any jail time and is not seeking supervised probation.
Bradford told the court that Bennett filed for pandemic unemployment assistance, a program during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic that provided unemployment benefits to people who were unable to work. He said Bennett acknowledged she was receiving $300 per week from the Georgia General Assembly but did not disclose the $905 in money she was receiving from working for her church.
Bennett claimed she lost wages related to a physical therapy business she owned and had been looking for employment, even though she held an administrative role and was working from home, Bradford said.
The plea agreement does not force Bennett to turn over any other elected officials nor ban her from seeking public office in the future. But her attorney, Jay Strongwater, said she is not planning to run for elected office again.
U.S. District Court Judge Eleanor Ross set a sentencing date of April 15, though it could come sooner.
Bennett is the second state lawmaker charged with pandemic fraud. State Rep. Sharon Henderson, a Democrat from Newton County, was charged in December with fraud related to government assistance during the pandemic. Henderson has pleaded not guilty.
Bennett resigned Jan. 1 after 13 years in the Georgia Legislature, according to a letter obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“This case could have been brought against anyone, and did not have to do with her constituents or service in public office,” Strongwater told the AJC.
U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said he is planning to bring more indictments against government officials.
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