Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) is expected to plead not guilty to federal charges alleging she conspired to steal $5 million in disaster relief funds during the COVID-19 pandemic and used part of the money to benefit her congressional campaign. Her attorney notified the court that she would waive her appearance at an arraignment scheduled for Tuesday, according to a court filing.
Federal prosecutors have charged Cherfilus-McCormick with 15 counts tied to the alleged misuse of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds that were overpaid to Trinity Healthcare Services, a company she formerly led as CEO. Authorities say the funds were received in July 2021 while the company was working on a FEMA-backed staffing contract related to COVID-19 vaccinations. Instead of returning the excess payment, prosecutors allege Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother routed the money through multiple accounts to conceal its source.
The indictment claims that more than $100,000 from the funds was later spent on a 3-carat yellow diamond ring, which drew renewed attention late last year after appearing to be edited out of a holiday post on her social media account. Cherfilus-McCormick has previously described the case as an unjust and baseless prosecution. She was released on a $60,000 bond and ordered to surrender her passport.
The case unfolds alongside ongoing scrutiny from congressional ethics investigators, who recently found substantial reason to believe she violated multiple laws and House rules. If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick could face decades in prison, though sentencing outcomes vary widely.
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