A Florida Democrat congresswoman stands accused of stealing $5 million in COVID-19 disaster relief funds to finance her political campaign, exposing yet another case of taxpayer money being brazenly misused by elected officials.
Story Highlights
- Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is charged with stealing $5 million in FEMA COVID funds.
- Federal prosecutors allege she laundered money through family accounts to fund her 2021 congressional campaign.
- The straw donor scheme used friends and relatives to disguise illegal campaign contributions.
- Congresswoman faces a maximum of 53 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Federal Charges Detail Elaborate Fraud Scheme
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., faces federal charges for allegedly stealing $5 million in COVID-19 disaster relief funds. A federal grand jury in Miami issued the indictment on November 19, 2025, accusing the congresswoman and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, of laundering the stolen FEMA money through multiple accounts.
The siblings obtained the funds in July 2021 after their family healthcare company received a $5 million overpayment from a COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract.
House Democrat Cherfilus-McCormick charged with stealing $5M in Covid aid funds https://t.co/LzGbEyPtKN
— CNBC (@CNBC) November 20, 2025
Campaign Finance Violations Through Straw Donors
Prosecutors allege Cherfilus-McCormick orchestrated a sophisticated straw donor scheme to funnel the stolen disaster funds into her 2021 congressional campaign. Working with defendant Nadege Leblanc, she allegedly sent FEMA contract money to friends and relatives, who then donated it back to her campaign.
This scheme allowed her to circumvent federal campaign finance laws while using taxpayer dollars meant for pandemic relief to advance her political ambitions.
Additional Tax Fraud Charges Filed
The indictment includes conspiracy charges against Cherfilus-McCormick and her 2021 tax preparer, David Spencer, for filing false tax returns. Prosecutors claim they fraudulently claimed personal and political expenses as business deductions while inflating charitable contributions to reduce her tax obligations.
These charges demonstrate a pattern of financial misconduct that extends beyond the misuse of disaster relief funds into systematic tax evasion.
Attorney General Condemns Selfish Criminal Behavior
Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the alleged crimes as particularly cynical, stating that using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment represents a selfish betrayal of public trust.
Bondi emphasized that no one stands above the law, especially powerful individuals who rob taxpayers for personal gain. The congresswoman’s defense attorneys maintain her innocence, describing her as a committed public servant dedicated to her constituents who will fight to clear her name.
Cherfilus-McCormick won her seat in a January 2022 special election to fill the late Rep. Alcee Hastings’ position representing Florida’s 20th Congressional District.
The House Ethics Committee has been investigating her conduct since receiving a referral in May 2024 regarding possible violations related to community project funding directed to for-profit entities.
If convicted on all charges, she faces a maximum sentence of 53 years in prison, though actual sentences typically fall well below statutory maximums.
