Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Accused of Embezzling $5 Million in FEMA Funds
U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat from Florida, is facing serious allegations. A Miami federal grand jury has indicted her on charges related to embezzlement of FEMA funds, totaling $5 million, intended for disaster relief. The indictment also implicates several co-conspirators.
Details of the Indictment Against Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, engaged in fraudulent activities involving a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract.
- Date of Overpayment: July 2021
- Amount of Overpayment: $5 million
- Age of Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick: 46
- Age of Edwin Cherfilus: 51
Prosecutors allege that the pair conspired to misappropriate the funds and laundered the money through various accounts. A substantial portion of these misused funds allegedly supported Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign.
Involvement of Co-Conspirators
The indictment also names Nadege Leblanc, 46, as a co-conspirator. Together, they are accused of facilitating a straw donor scheme using FEMA funds. Furthermore, her tax preparer, David K. Spencer, 41, is implicated in filing false federal tax returns on her behalf.
- Charges against David K. Spencer: Filing false tax returns
- Accusations: Misclassifying personal expenses and inflating charitable contributions
Legal Consequences
If convicted, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick faces a maximum sentence of 53 years in prison. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that using disaster relief funds for personal gain represents a serious crime. She emphasized that no individual is above the law, especially those in positions of power.
The congresswoman took office in 2022, succeeding the late Alcee Hastings. As this case develops, further updates will be provided by El-Balad.
