By Federal prosecutors on Wednesday unsealed a sweeping indictment against U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat from Florida, charging the South Florida Democrat and three associates with stealing $5 million in federal disaster-relief funds, laundering the proceeds, and illegally injecting the money into her first congressional campaign.
Cherfilus-McCormick, 46, who represents Florida’s 20th Congressional District and is the first Haitian-American woman elected to Congress, now faces up to 53 years in prison if convicted on all counts according to reports,.
According to the indictment, Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, ran a family health-care staffing company that secured a FEMA-funded contract in 2021 to supply personnel to COVID-19 vaccination sites. In July of that year, the company mistakenly received a $5 million overpayment from FEMA. Rather than notify federal officials, prosecutors allege the siblings diverted the money through a network of bank accounts to mask its origin, ultimately channeling a significant share into Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 special-election campaign and using the rest for personal benefit.
The indictment also outlines a parallel scheme involving co-defendant Nadege Leblanc, 46, of Miramar, who allegedly helped orchestrate a straw-donor operation by directing FEMA-funded payments to friends and relatives. Those individuals then made campaign contributions that were falsely reported as their own, prosecutors said.
NEW: Grand jury indicts Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, per DOJ.
She is accused of illegally funneling $5 million in FEMA overpayments to her company into her campaign account. pic.twitter.com/On8lGRubV7
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) November 19, 2025
A final set of charges accuses Cherfilus-McCormick and her 2021 tax preparer, David K. Spencer, 41, of Davie, of filing a fraudulent federal tax return by improperly classifying political and personal expenses as business deductions and overstating charitable donations.
If convicted, the potential penalties are severe: Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison; Edwin Cherfilus up to 35 years; Leblanc up to 10 years; and Spencer up to 33 years.
Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the alleged misconduct, issuing a sharply worded statement: “Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime. 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 echoed that sentiment, saying the indictment “shows no one is above the law” and pledging continued vigilance in safeguarding taxpayer money.
The charges stem from a joint investigation by the FBI’s Miami Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Cherfilus-McCormick has already been under the shadow of scrutiny: since 2023, the House Ethics Committee has been probing alleged campaign finance irregularities linked to her 2021–2022 election cycle. Her office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The indictment represents a dramatic turn for a lawmaker who won her seat in a razor-thin 2022 special election to replace the late Rep. Alcee Hastings and has since secured two additional terms.
That’s a million dollars per deciding vote in the Dem primary for the special election after Alcee Hastings died. https://t.co/9J07Y3TbsL pic.twitter.com/GO0SB7QJeM
— Damin Toell (@damintoell) November 20, 2025
The allegations are likely to intensify calls for her resignation and could prompt further congressional inquiries as the case moves forward.
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