Florida Congresswoman Charged With Stealing $5 Million In FEMA Funds

Federal prosecutors have accused Florida Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilas-McCormick of stealing $5 million from federal emergency funds and using it to support her 2021 congressional campaign.

ABC News reports that a federal grand jury returned an indictment, and the Justice Department released details on Wednesday. Her brother, Edwin Cherfilas, is also charged. Prosecutors allege that FEMA overpaid the family's health care company $5 million during a 2021 contract for COVID-19 vaccination staffing. According to the indictment, the money did not belong to the company, and Cherfilas-McCormick and her fellow defendants knew this. The indictment alleges that they transferred the money to multiple accounts to conceal its origin. She then arranged for straw donors, friends, and family members to make campaign donations using the redirected FEMA funds.

Why is the government calling this serious?

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the crime "robs taxpayers for personal gain." She called it mean and cynical. She said investigators will determine the facts and ensure justice is served.

If Cherfilas-McCormick is convicted on all charges, she could face up to 53 years in prison. Records show that as of Wednesday evening, no attorney had been named in her case.