Cherfilus-McCormick Indicted for Stealing $5 Million in COVID-19 Relief Funds in Miami Federal Court

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has resigned from Congress, becoming the third House member to step down this month amid an ongoing federal indictment alleging she stole $5 million in FEMA disaster funds tied to a Covid-19 vaccination staffing contract.

The Florida Democrat was indicted in November 2025 by a federal grand jury in Miami on 15 counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements to the IRS, according to court documents and Justice Department announcements. Prosecutors allege that Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, conspired to steal an overpayment of $5 million in federal relief funds received by their family’s health care company, Trinity Healthcare Services, in July 2021 for a FEMA-funded Covid-19 vaccination staffing contract.

The indictment states that the defendants routed the misappropriated funds through multiple accounts to conceal their origin and used a substantial portion to support Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign and for personal benefit. Specifically, prosecutors allege that within two months of receiving the overpayment, more than $100,000 was spent to purchase a 3-carat yellow diamond ring for the congresswoman.

Cherfilus-McCormick is also accused of arranging additional campaign contributions through straw donors, funneling other monies from the FEMA-funded contract to friends and relatives who then donated to her campaign as if using their own money. She and her 2021 tax preparer, David K. Spencer, face separate charges of conspiring to file a false federal tax return by falsely claiming political spending and personal expenses as business deductions and inflating charitable contributions to reduce her tax obligations.

Following her arraignment in December 2025, Cherfilus-McCormick pleaded not guilty to all charges. Her legal team requested a rescheduling of the proceedings to January 2026 to finalize her defense, which was granted by Judge Lisette Reid. A bond of $60,000 was previously set in her case.

Before her resignation, Cherfilus-McCormick had represented Florida’s 20th Congressional District since winning a special election in January 2022 to fill the vacancy left by the late Rep. Alcee Hastings. She was re-elected in 2022 and ran unopposed in 2024.

The Justice Department has characterized the alleged misuse of disaster relief funds as “a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” emphasizing that such actions undermine public trust in federal aid programs designed to assist communities during emergencies.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation marks the third departure from the U.S. House of Representatives in April 2026, contributing to a series of vacancies that have prompted special election preparations in multiple districts. Her resignation triggers the constitutional process for filling the seat, which will be governed by Florida state law and the rules of the U.S. House.