What to know about Florida congresswoman charged with stealing disaster funds
A federal indictment charges U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida with: stealing $5 million in federal disaster fundsThe Justice Department said he funneled some of the money to his congressional campaign through donors and then conspired to file false tax returns.
Federal prosecutors accused the Democrat of stealing overpayments the Federal Emergency Management Agency received through a COVID-19 vaccine staffing contract for the family health care company. According to the statement shared by the chief of staff, Cherfilus-McCormick denied the accusations and does not plan to resign.
Part of Cherfilus-McCormick’s statement read: “This is an unjust, unfounded and fraudulent indictment – and I am innocent. The timing alone is interesting and clearly intended to distract attention from much more pressing national issues.” “I look forward to my day in court. Until then, I will continue to fight for my constituents.”
Here’s what you need to know:
What’s in the indictment?
The indictment returned Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Miami charges Cherfilus-McCormick and other defendants with conspiring to steal $5 million in overpayments to her family’s healthcare company, Trinity Healthcare Services, under a 2021 contract to register people for COVID-19 vaccines.
Prosecutors allege the funds were distributed to various accounts, including friends and relatives who donated to the campaign that got him elected to Congress. Prosecutors allege that a “significant portion” of the embezzled funds were used for the campaign or for the “personal benefit” of Cherfilus-McCormick and the other defendants.
How did he answer?
Cherfilus-McCormick maintains his innocence. He also said he was cooperating with “every legal request” and would continue to do so “until this issue is resolved,” according to a statement released by the chief of staff.
“Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick is a committed public servant dedicated to her constituents. We will fight to clear her good name,” her attorneys David Oscar Markus, Margot Moss and Melissa Madrigal wrote.
Cherfilus-McCormick won a special election to represent Florida’s 20th District in January 2022 in parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties following the 2021 death of Rep. Alcee Hastings.
What did previous research find?
Sometime in December 2024 florida state agency She sued Trinity Healthcare Services, saying the company owned by Cherfilus-McCormick’s family overcharged the state by nearly $5.8 million for work done during the pandemic and would not give the money back.
The Florida Department of Emergency Management said it discovered the problem after a $5 million overpayment came to attention. Cherfilus-McCormick was Trinity’s CEO at the time.
Parliamentary Ethics Committee voted unanimously Reauthorizing an investigative subcommittee to review allegations against the congressman in July.
The Office of Congressional Ethics said: January report Cherfilus-McCormick’s revenue in 2021 was $6 million higher than in 2020, driven by consulting and profit-sharing fees of approximately $5.75 million from Trinity Healthcare Services.
The indictment charges Cherfilus-McCormick and the 2021 tax preparer with conspiring to prepare a false federal tax return by falsely claiming political and other personal expenses as business deductions and inflated charitable contributions.
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Kate Payne is a syndicated member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. report for america is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
