Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida lawmaker and prominent member of the American Haitian community, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Miami. She faces charges of misusing and laundering $5 million in emergency funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She is accused of using part of these funds for her congressional campaign.
The federal indictment also includes her sibling, Edwin Cherfilus, and two other people as co-defendants. The Department of Justice (DOJ) says the congresswoman could face up to 53 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
FEMA-Funded Vaccination Contract at the Center of the Charges
The indictment states that in 2021, Cherfilus-McCormick, 46, and her brother Edwin, 51, managed a FEMA-funded staffing contract for COVID-19 vaccination through their family’s healthcare company, which received $5 million in July 2021.
Prosecutors allege that, rather than returning unused funds, the defendants “conspired to steal the $5 million,” routing the funds through various bank accounts to obscure their source. Investigators claim that a significant portion of these diverted funds supported Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign and provided personal financial benefits to the defendants.
The charges also involve the congresswoman and co-defendant Nadege Leblanc in a ‘straw donor’ scheme. The DOJ says they made contributions using fake donors, moving more FEMA money to friends and relatives who donated to the campaign as if it were their own money.
Furthermore, the congresswoman and her 2021 tax preparer, David K. Spencer, are accused of collaborating to submit fraudulent federal tax returns by incorrectly categorizing political and personal expenses as business costs and overstating charitable contributions to minimize her tax obligations.
“Using disaster relief funds to enrich oneself is a particularly selfish and cynical crime,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a statement. “No one is above the law—especially not those in positions of power who steal from taxpayers for their own personal gain. We will follow the facts in this case and pursue justice.”
A Haitian American Lawmaker With a Notable Career
Born to Haitian immigrants in New York and raised in Queens before relocating to Florida in her teenage years, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick established herself as both an attorney and healthcare executive. Since 2022, she has served as the representative for Florida’s 20th Congressional District, encompassing primarily African American communities in the Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach regions.
Following two unsuccessful primary challenges against veteran Democratic Representative Alcee Hastings, she secured victory in the 2022 special election after his passing and subsequently won reelection that same year, garnering more than 72% of the vote. In the following electoral cycle, she maintained her position without facing any opposition.
Her electoral success was heralded as a significant milestone for representation in Washington by both Haitian American and African American communities. She gained recognition for her vocal opposition to the stigmatization of Haitian migrants and her advocacy for more compassionate immigration policies, frequently collaborating with immigrant advocacy groups.
High Spending and Long-Standing Questions About Her 2021 Campaign
The current allegations mirror concerns that had previously emerged regarding the financing of her 2021 special election campaign.
Federal prosecutors say Cherfilus-McCormick put millions of her own money into her 2021 campaign after making much more income from her home-health care business between 2020 and 2021.
The DOJ now claims that a significant portion of these funds originated from the $5 million in FEMA overpayments that remained unpaid. Prosecutors allege that some of these funds were utilized as candidate loans, while others were contributed through relatives and associates in the alleged straw-donor scheme.
Alongside the criminal proceedings, the congresswoman faces administrative investigations. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has launched an investigation into potential unreported in-kind contributions connected to her associates and a political consultant. Additionally, Florida state authorities have initiated legal proceedings to recover another overpayment—nearly $5.8 million—related to a similar COVID-19 contract.
Ethics Scrutiny in Congress and a Warning from the Office of Congressional Ethics
Well before Wednesday’s indictment, Cherfilus-McCormick had already drawn attention on Capitol Hill.
The Office of Congressional Ethics found “substantial reason to believe” Cherfilus-McCormick sought project funding for a for-profit entity.
This report was officially transmitted to the House Ethics Committee in May 2024. House regulations required the Committee to release the OCE report in May 2025 after failing to conclude its investigation within the designated timeframe. In July, Ethics Committee members unanimously voted to extend the subcommittee’s mandate to investigate the allegations.
At the time, Cherfilus-McCormick maintained her innocence regarding the allegations. In her statement to Politico, she emphasized that the OCE’s decision to refer the matter “for further review does not imply that any violation occurred.”
A Forceful Defense: “We Will Fight to Clear Her Name”
Following the indictment, congressional records showed that the congresswoman abstained from several House votes on Wednesday evening. Her congressional office maintained silence when approached by media representatives.
Her defense team, however, mounted a robust response.
Her attorneys released a statement characterizing Cherfilus-McCormick as “a committed public servant, dedicated to her constituents. We will fight to clear her name.”
In a separate response published by Roll Call, the congresswoman declared the indictment “unjust, baseless, fabricated—and I am innocent.” She continued:
“The timing speaks for itself and is clearly designed to distract from far more pressing national issues. From day one, I have cooperated with every lawful request and will continue to do so until this matter is resolved.”
The Department of Justice provided context for the proceedings:
“An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” the DOJ said.
Political Stakes and Impact on the Haitian American Community
Cherfilus-McCormick now faces a tough 2026 Democratic primary. Challenger Elijah Manley emphasizes ethics and transparency, calling her “corrupt”—a claim that led her to file a defamation suit.
The indictment is a setback for South Florida’s Haitian American community, which had strongly supported her.
The case proceeds on two tracks: in federal court for judicial review and in Congress, where the House Ethics Committee can recommend disciplinary actions, including reprimand, expulsion, or committee removal.
While the presumption of innocence remains fundamental, the gravity of the accusations—specifically, misappropriation of emergency public health funds during a pandemic—could cast enduring doubts on Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s political trajectory and on public trust in the administration of federal relief funding.
https://ctninfo.com/?p=38231&preview=true
