A federal grand jury in Miami charged Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and several co-defendants; she denies wrongdoing and calls the case politically timed.
MIAMI, Fla. — A federal grand jury has indicted Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida on charges she stole $5 million in disaster funds from a FEMA-backed COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract and funneled some of the money into her 2021 congressional campaign, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Prosecutors say the overpayment landed in July 2021 at a South Florida health care firm tied to Cherfilus-McCormick, a first-term Democrat from Broward and Palm Beach counties. The case, announced Wednesday and detailed Thursday by multiple officials, elevates an already high-stakes inquiry that has followed the lawmaker since she won her seat in 2022. The indictment names her brother and two associates as co-defendants and outlines alleged straw donations, money laundering and a false tax filing conspiracy. Cherfilus-McCormick says she is innocent and that the timing is suspect. The outcome could affect her standing in Congress and her 2026 reelection plans as leaders weigh next steps.
According to the indictment, the $5 million arrived through a FEMA-funded contract supporting COVID-19 vaccination staffing in Florida. Rather than return the excess payment, prosecutors say, the money was moved through multiple accounts to disguise its origin and used in part to back Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 special-election bid, including contributions made in others’ names. The congresswoman, 46, was charged alongside her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, 51, of Miramar; Nadege Leblanc, 46, of Miramar; and her 2021 tax preparer, David K. Spencer, 41, of Davie. “Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said the case reflects a commitment to protect taxpayer dollars and pursue public corruption.
The government alleges the group conspired to steal the full $5 million overpayment in July 2021 and laundered the proceeds while routing a “substantial portion” into the campaign. Prosecutors say Leblanc helped arrange straw donations from friends and relatives to make contributions appear legal. In a separate count, Cherfilus-McCormick and Spencer are accused of conspiring to file a false 2021 federal tax return by claiming political spending and personal expenses as business deductions and inflating charitable contributions. Maximum penalties listed by prosecutors total up to 53 years in prison for Cherfilus-McCormick if convicted on all counts; the co-defendants face maximums ranging from 10 to 35 years. Investigators from the FBI’s Miami field office and IRS Criminal Investigation are leading the probe.
In statements Thursday, Cherfilus-McCormick called the case a “sham,” said she has cooperated since “day one,” and argued the announcement was meant to distract from larger national issues. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the congresswoman is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence. She is taking leave from her role as ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa while the matter proceeds, according to party officials. Across the aisle, Florida Republican Rep. Greg Steube said he will move to force a vote to expel her from the House. The indictment, unsealed in Miami, follows months of scrutiny by federal authorities and internal House investigators.
The case traces back to a 2021 vaccination staffing contract overseen by Florida emergency managers using FEMA dollars during the pandemic. State officials previously sued a health care company once led by Cherfilus-McCormick over the overpayment, pegging the total at just over $5 million, and later reached a settlement that set a long-term repayment schedule. The Democratic lawmaker won a 2022 special election to succeed the late Rep. Alcee Hastings and later secured a full term that year. Since then she has faced political pressure at home, including a primary challenge focused on ethics complaints and the long-running questions about the FEMA money. The new federal charges put the dispute on a criminal track and add potential campaign finance violations to the alleged misuse of disaster funds.
Procedurally, the case was filed in the Southern District of Florida; prosecutors said related court documents would be posted to federal dockets, with a case number to follow. Initial appearances and arraignments typically occur within days of an indictment’s unsealing, though a hearing date had not been publicly set by Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors named Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandra L. López and Yeney Hernández and Justice Department Trial Attorney John P. Taddei to the government team. Officials emphasized that an indictment is an allegation and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Any disciplinary steps by House leaders would run alongside the criminal process.
In South Florida, reaction was swift and divided. Outside a district office in Broward County, a handful of constituents traded views about accountability and timing while local TV trucks idled nearby. “We need the facts, but this is a gut punch,” said Michelle Dorval of Lauderhill, who voted for Cherfilus-McCormick. “Disaster money is sacred,” said Anthony Ruiz, a Palm Beach paramedic who deployed on vaccination sites in 2021. “If someone took advantage, they should pay, whoever they are.” A longtime Broward Democratic activist said volunteers were fielding calls from donors seeking clarity on the campaign’s status. The congresswoman’s staff referred questions to her legal team, which reiterated that she plans to fight the charges.
As of Thursday evening, Cherfilus-McCormick remained in office representing Florida’s 20th District while the case moves forward in federal court. Party leaders signaled more internal steps are possible after the initial appearance. A federal docketing update and any first-hearing date are expected in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated November 20, 2025.