A federal judge in Miami set a $60,000 bond Tuesday for Haitian-American U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who appeared in court for the first time on charges accusing her of conspiring to steal $5 million in federal disaster funds intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 in 2021.
The South Florida Democrat faces 15 federal counts alleging she diverted money that prosecutors say was mistakenly overpaid to her family’s company, Trinity Healthcare Services, which held a contract to register people for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Cherfilus-McCormick stood beside her attorneys as Judge Enjoliqué Lett read each of the 15 charges. She confirmed to the judge that she understood the accusations, according to the Associated Press.
As part of her release conditions, the judge ordered her to surrender her personal passport. She may only travel to and from Florida from Washington, D.C., Maryland, and the Eastern District of Virginia. She will be allowed to keep her congressional passport to carry out official duties.
According to a federal indictment unsealed earlier this month, prosecutors allege that within two months of receiving the funds in 2021, more than $100,000 was used to purchase a 3-carat yellow diamond ring for the congresswoman. The indictment states that her family’s company had requested $50,000 through a vaccination staffing contract but mistakenly received $5 million — a discrepancy prosecutors say was never returned.
Prosecutors further allege that Trinity Healthcare distributed the funds to several accounts belonging to friends and relatives, who then donated to Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional campaign.
Cherfilus-McCormick has denied the accusations. Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, said she is innocent, and the congresswoman echoed that sentiment in a statement posted on social media.
“Today, I made my initial appearance in a case that is both politically timed and politically motivated. Let me be clear: I am innocent and I look forward to my day in court,” she wrote. “This is not just a fight for my name — it’s a fight for my constituents, an attack on the progress we have been making and the movement we have started. This is a sham effort to remove me from my seat. I will not be intimidated or silenced. I am prepared, I am focused, and I am going to fight like hell for my constituents.”
Cherfilus-McCormick won a special election in January 2022 to represent Florida’s 20th District, which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, following the death of longtime Rep. Alcee Hastings.
The charges against her include theft of government funds; making and receiving straw donor contributions; aiding and assisting a false and fraudulent statement on a tax return; money laundering; and conspiracy related to those offenses.
According to a statement from her chief of staff, the congresswoman does not intend to resign and maintains her innocence. She says she has complied with “every lawful request” and will continue to do so until the case is resolved.
