House Democrat accused of stealing $5 million from FEMA posts edited photo without expensive ring

Florida Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who was indicted by a grand jury last month for allegedly stealing money from FEMA, published Thursday what appears to be an edited version of her House portrait minus a fancy ring.

The indictment alleges Cherfilus-McCormick, her brother Edwin Cherfilus and several co-defendants stole $5 million from FEMA, laundered the proceeds, and used them to fund her 2021 congressional campaign. 

Court documents allege that part of the stolen funds were used to purchase the missing yellow diamond ring, after the indictment claimed she cashed a cashier’s check worth approximately $109,000 to buy a ring on or about Sept. 1, 2021.

Cherfilus-McCormick's official House portrait shows the congresswoman wearing the flashy diamond ring, but the photo that was posted to X on Christmas does not feature the jewelry. A Community Notes on the post flags the missing ring.

"From my family to yours, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a joyful, safe holiday season," she wrote in the post.

The Washington Examiner reported that the yellow diamond ring matches two rings sold by the New York jeweler Tiffany & Co.

The congresswoman's office said the editing was done by a staffer and was not approved by Cherfilus-McCormick.

"This action was not directed, approved, or authorized by the Congresswoman," her chief of staff Naomie Pierre-Louis told CBS12. "It was a staff-level decision made by well-intentioned individuals seeking to protect the Member’s reputation. It was unauthorized and should not have occurred. The image is the Congresswoman’s official portrait, and she has no intention of altering or editing it now or in the future."

The Floridian has also denied the allegations that she laundered money.

“This is an unjust, baseless, sham indictment — and I am innocent,” she said in a statement last month. “The timing alone is curious and clearly meant to distract from far more pressing national issues. From day one, I have fully cooperated with every lawful request, and I will continue to do so until this matter is resolved ... I look forward to my day in court.”

Federal prosecutors claimed the lawmaker and her brother worked for their family health-care company on a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in 2021, when FEMA mistakenly gave the company an extra $5 million. The pair then allegedly plotted to steal the money and hide the crime by spreading it across multiple accounts. 

The prosecutors also claimed a substantial part of the funds were used for Cherfilus-McCormick's campaign, but the rest was given to the other defendants for personal use.

If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison and her brother faces up to 35 years in prison.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.