Another day in the swamp, another Democrat congresswoman caught with her manicured fingers in the taxpayer cookie jar — this time, allegedly pocketing $5 million meant for COVID-19 disaster relief and funneling it straight into her own campaign coffers.
A federal grand jury in Miami indicted U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., her brother Edwin Cherfilus and two others Wednesday on charges of stealing federal disaster funds, money laundering and illegal campaign contributions, the Justice Department announced.
Prosecutors say Cherfilus-McCormick, 46, and her brother, 51, both of Miramar, exploited a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract through their family healthcare company in 2021.
The firm received a $5 million overpayment in July of that year.
Instead of returning the money, the trio allegedly conspired to keep it, routing the cash through multiple accounts to hide its origin.
A substantial portion then flowed into Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 special-election campaign as well as for the personal enrichment of the defendants, according to the indictment.
Cherfilus-McCormick also faces charges of filing a false tax return by claiming political spending and personal expenses as business deductions and inflating charitable contributions to slash her tax bill.
Co-defendant Nadege Leblanc, 46, of Miramar, is accused of participating in a straw-donor scheme, while tax preparer David K. Spencer, 41, of Davie, allegedly helped file the fraudulent return.
Cherfilus-McCormick, who won re-election just two weeks ago, could face up to 53 years in prison if convicted.
"Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime," U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain. We will follow the facts in this case and deliver justice."
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida added, "Today’s indictment shows no one is above the law. This indictment reflects our Office’s commitment to follow the facts, apply the law, and protect the American taxpayer."
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