Florida Democrat Faces Up to 53 Years in Prison for Alleged Fraud and Laundering Scheme
The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick for allegedly stealing $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds and laundering the money to finance her 2021 congressional campaign.
A Miami federal grand jury returned the indictment charging Cherfilus-McCormick and several co-conspirators with conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and filing a false tax return related to a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract awarded to her family healthcare company.
Prosecutors allege that Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother received an overpayment of $5 million in 2021, which they conspired to steal by routing the funds through multiple accounts to disguise their origin.
Substantial portions of the misappropriated funds were reportedly used both to support Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign and for personal benefit.
The indictment further accuses Cherfilus-McCormick and an accomplice of using straw donors—friends and relatives who funneled money purportedly as their own donations—to conceal illegal campaign contributions.
Her tax preparer is also charged with conspiracy to file a false federal tax return, including falsely classifying political expenditures and personal costs as business deductions while inflating charitable contributions.
Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the alleged theft as a “particularly selfish, cynical crime,” emphasizing that “no one is above the law,” especially those misappropriating taxpayer funds.
Cherfilus-McCormick, who entered Congress in 2022 succeeding Alcee Hastings, faces a potential sentence of up to 53 years in prison if convicted.
Her legal team maintains her innocence and vows to vigorously defend her reputation and clear her name.
