U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Democratic representative for the state of Florida, was accused of stealing, along with others, five million dollars intended for natural disaster recovery and using it for her 2021 congressional campaign.
According to the indictment, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother stole the funds through a family health care company with a contract with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Justice Department said in a statement.
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, accused of siphoning off millions of dollars
In July 2021, the company, which was involved in covid-19 vaccination programs, received a $5 million overpayment in FEMA funds and both defendants “conspired to steal” that amount, which they funneled through multiple accounts to conceal its origin.
Prosecutors allege that some of these funds were justified as contributions to Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign and some were used for the defendants’ personal use.
The indictment added that the congresswoman also arranged along with another person “additional contributions using interposed donors and funneling other funds from the FEMA-funded covid-19 contract to friends and family members who then donated to the campaign as if they were using their own money.”
In addition, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is charged along with her 2021 tax preparer with conspiracy to file a false return.
If convicted, the Democrat faces a maximum sentence of 53 years in prison, and her brother, 35 years in prison.
The politician defended her innocence in a statement, and said that the accusation “seeks to divert attention from much more pressing national issues.”
The complaint also forced Cherfilus-McCormicka to temporarily step down from her position on a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee, since the Democratic caucus requires its members to resign if they are indicted.
Filed under: Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
With information from EFE
