Miami, FL — U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) has been indicted by a federal grand jury, charged with stealing $5 million in disaster-relief funds and using part of that money to support her 2021 congressional campaign.
According to the Justice Department, Cherfilus-McCormick and several co-defendants — including her brother, Edwin Cherfilus — allegedly misused overpayments made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to their family-owned health care company, Trinity Healthcare Services, under a COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in 2021.
Prosecutors claim the money was routed through multiple accounts to disguise its origins. A “substantial portion” was funneled into Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional run, both through direct contributions and via straw donor schemes — friends and relatives allegedly acted as fronts, donating money that actually came from the FEMA overpayment.
More seriously, the indictment also accuses Cherfilus-McCormick and her 2021 tax preparer, David K. Spencer, of conspiring to file a false federal tax return. Prosecutors say they mischaracterized political and personal expenses as business deductions, and inflated charitable contributions, in order to lower her tax burden.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, commenting on the case, called the alleged scheme “a particularly selfish, cynical crime” and emphasized that no one — not even powerful public officials — is above the law.
If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison according to the DOJ.
Background / Context:
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In December 2024, the Florida Division of Emergency Management sued Trinity Healthcare Services, alleging it overcharged the state by $5.8 million for pandemic-related work. AP News
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The House Ethics Committee has also been investigating Cherfilus-McCormick. In July 2025, it re-authorized a subcommittee to examine whether she improperly used her business’s government contracts. The Washington Post+1
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Cherfilus-McCormick, who had served as CEO of Trinity, was first elected to Congress in a special election in January 2022, representing parts of Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Wikipedia
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In response to the indictment, Cherfilus-McCormick has denied wrongdoing, calling the charges “an unjust, baseless, sham indictment” and saying she looks forward to her day in court. The Washington Post
Implications & Reaction:
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Political fallout: Republicans have already signaled plans to force a vote on expelling her from Congress. Axios
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Fiscal trust concerns: The case raises broader questions about accountability and oversight of pandemic-era relief funds, particularly in the rapid disbursement of FEMA contracts.
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Legal stakes: The potential prison sentence (up to 53 years) underscores the seriousness of the charges and signals a major federal prosecution of a sitting member of Congress.
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