Florida Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is facing serious legal trouble after being charged with stealing and laundering $5 million in federal disaster relief money — funds prosecutors say she then used to boost her own political campaign.
The Justice Department announced Wednesday that the Democratic lawmaker and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, were indicted for their alleged roles in a scheme connected to a 2021 FEMA-funded Covid vaccination contract managed through their family’s health care company.
🚨 Allegations: $5 Million Taken, Hidden and Spent
According to the indictment, the company received a $5 million overpayment from FEMA. Prosecutors say the congresswoman and her brother then conspired to steal the excess funds and moved the money through multiple accounts to hide its origin.
Federal officials say Cherfilus-McCormick used part of the stolen money for personal benefit — and a “significant portion” to finance her congressional campaign.
She was first elected in a 2022 special election to replace the late Rep. Alcee Hastings, later winning re-election with 72.3% of the vote. In 2024, she ran unopposed.
💰 Straw Donors & Illegal Contributions
The indictment also claims that Cherfilus-McCormick and another defendant, Nadege Leblanc, used “straw donors” to disguise illegal campaign contributions. The DOJ says FEMA funds were secretly funneled to relatives and friends, who then made campaign donations under their own names.
Additionally, the congresswoman and her tax preparer are charged with filing a false federal tax return for 2021.
Her office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and she was absent from House votes Wednesday evening.
Her legal team issued a statement defending her, saying she is a “committed public servant” and vowing to “fight to clear her good name.”
🔍 Ethics Scrutiny Began Last Year
These charges come after a separate investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The committee began reviewing her conduct after receiving a referral from the Office of Congressional Conduct, which found “substantial reason to believe” she sought community project funding that would benefit a for-profit entity.
The Ethics Committee made the OCC’s findings public in May 2025 because it had not completed its investigation. At the time, she denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing that a referral did not indicate guilt.
In July, the committee unanimously voted to continue investigating her.
⚖️ ‘Selfish and Cynical Crime,’ Says Attorney General
Attorney General Pam Bondi sharply criticized the alleged scheme.
“Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” Bondi said. “No one is above the law.”
A federal grand jury in Miami ultimately returned the indictment.
📌 Not the Only Lawmaker Facing Charges
Cherfilus-McCormick is now the second Democratic member of Congress indicted this year. In June, Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey was charged after a confrontation with federal officers during protests over ICE detentions. She has pleaded not guilty.
