Grand jury indicts Florida Dem Rep Cherfilus-McCormick for allegedly stealing $5 million from FEMA

A Florida grand jury on Wednesday indicted Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick for allegedly stealing $5 million in disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The indictment alleges Cherfilus-McCormick, her brother Edwin Cherfilus and several co-defendants stole the money, laundering the proceeds, and used them to fund her 2021 congressional campaign, according to the Justice Department.

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 on Cherfilus-McCormick's campaign but the rest was given to the other defendants for personal use.

Just The News' has attempted to reach out to the lawmaker for comment but was unsuccessful.

“Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain. We will follow the facts in this case and deliver justice.”

Cherfilus-McCormick and her 2021 tax preparer David K. Spencer, 41, of Davie, were also charged with conspiring to file a false federal tax return.

If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison and her brother faces up to 35 years in prison. Spencer faces up to 33 years in prison if convicted.

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