"MIAMI U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida has been indicted on charges accusing her of stealing $5 million in federal disaster funds and using some of the money to aid her 2021 campaign, the Justice Department said Wednesday. The Democrat is accused of stealing Federal Emergency Management Agency overpayments that her family health care company had received through a federally funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract, federal prosecutors said."
"In December 2024, a Florida state agency sued a company owned by Cherfilus-McCormick's family, saying it overcharged the state by nearly $5.8 million for work done during the pandemic and wouldn't give the money back. The Florida Division of Emergency Management said it made a series of overpayments to Trinity Healthcare Services after hiring it in 2021 to register people for COVID-19 vaccinations. The agency says it discovered the problem after a single $5 million overpayment drew attention."
"A portion of the money was then funneled to support her campaign through candidate contributions, prosecutors allege. "Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime," 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. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick faces an indictment alleging theft of $5 million in federal disaster funds and misuse of some funds for her 2021 campaign. The funds allegedly originated from FEMA overpayments to Trinity Healthcare Services, a family-owned company that provided COVID-19 vaccination staffing. Prosecutors allege a portion of the overpayments was funneled to the campaign through candidate contributions. A Florida state agency sued Trinity in December 2024, claiming nearly $5.8 million in overcharges during the pandemic. The Office of Congressional Ethics reported Cherfilus-McCormick's 2021 income rose by more than $6 million, driven by payments from Trinity.
#fema-fraud #political-campaign-finance #covid-19-vaccination-contracts #florida-politician-indictment
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