A Democratic Florida congresswoman stole $5 million in COVID-19 emergency reduction cash and spent it on her marketing campaign, the Justice Division mentioned Wednesday.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, 46, denied the allegations and promised to struggle the case, although she was faraway from her committee positions within the Home of Representatives. She has represented Florida’s twentieth District since 2022.
“Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” Legal professional Common Pam Bondi mentioned in a press launch.
Cherfilus-McCormick was CEO of her household’s firm, Trinity Healthcare Companies, when it obtained a $5 million overpayment for a contract in 2021, in accordance with federal investigators.
In a previous declare, Florida’s emergency administration division mentioned a “clerical error” led to Trinity receiving $5 million as an alternative of $50,000. Cherfilus-McCormick and her firm then refused to ship the cash again when requested, the feds mentioned.
As a substitute, Cherfilus-McCormick funneled the cash to varied relations, who then donated it again to her congressional marketing campaign in a “straw donor” scheme, the Justice Division claimed.
Cherfilus-McCormick received her 2022 particular election to exchange Rep. Alcee Hastings, who died in 2021, then received reelection later that 12 months and ran unopposed in 2024.
