Florida Rep. Indicted for $5M Disaster Fund Theft

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Miami on charges of stealing $5 million in federal disaster relief funds, laundering the money and directing portions of it to her 2021 congressional campaign.

The Democratic congresswoman, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, faces multiple felony counts including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and filing a false tax return. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the allegations center on Trinity Healthcare Services, a family-owned company where Cherfilus-McCormick served as former CEO and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, was involved. The firm had secured a state contract in 2021 to provide COVID-19 testing and outreach in minority communities, funded in part by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Prosecutors allege that the company received a $5 million overpayment from the state, which became the focus of a civil lawsuit by Florida's Division of Emergency Management. That suit was settled earlier this year. Instead of returning the excess funds, the indictment claims Cherfilus-McCormick, her brother and associate Nadege Leblanc...