A Florida Democratic congresswoman is accused of stealing $5,000,000 in FEMA funds and financing her campaign with the money

After two years of investigations against her, Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick now faces one of the most serious federal indictments against a sitting member of the House in recent years.

A federal grand jury in Miami indicted her for allegedly stealing $5,000,000 in emergency funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), laundering the money and funneling some of the resources into her 2021 congressional campaign.

According to the indictment released by the Department of Justice, Cherfilus-McCormick, a 46-year-old representative of the 20th district of Florida, allegedly participated with her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, 51, in a scheme to divert funds from a contract for COVID-19.

According to the DOJ, the Miramar-based, family-owned health care company received a $5,000,000 overpayment from FEMA in July 2021. Instead of returning the excess money, the defendants devised a mechanism to distribute it across multiple accounts to conceal its source.

According to prosecutors, a substantial portion of the money ended up funding Cherfilus-McCormick's campaign to fill the seat vacated by the late Congressman Alcee Hastings. The Democrat won that special election in January 2022 and was subsequently re-elected twice.

The indictment further alleges that Cherfilus-McCormick and a co-defendant, Nadege Leblanc, used fictitious donors to inflate campaign contributions artificially. To do so, they allegedly directed resources from the FEMA contract to family members and close associates, who then donated as if they were their own contributions. In addition, the congresswoman and her 2021 tax preparer, David K. Spencer, were charged with conspiring to file a false tax return, claiming personal expenses as business deductions and improperly increasing her charitable contributions.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi called the case an extreme example of abuse of power: "Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime."

She added: "No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain."

Jason A. Reding Quiñones, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, underscored the seriousness of diverting money intended for national emergencies: "Public money belongs to the American people. When FEMA funds are diverted for personal or political gain, it erodes trust and harms us all."

The U.S. Attorney further assured that the office will continue to work to protect public resources and the public trust.

If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison. Her brother could receive up to 35 years, Leblanc up to 10, and Spencer up to 33. The FBI and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) are leading the investigation.

At the time of publishing this story, the congresswoman has not issued a statement.