Haitian-American Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick responded on Thursday to a federal indictment accusing her of stealing $5 million in disaster relief funds and funneling much of it into her 2021 congressional campaign.
“This is an unjust, baseless, sham indictment — and I am innocent,” Cherfilus-McCormick said in a statement. “The timing alone is curious and clearly meant to distract from far more pressing national issues. From day one, I have fully cooperated with every lawful request, and I will continue to do so until this matter is resolved. I am deeply grateful for the support of my district, and I remain confident that the truth will prevail. I look forward to my day in court. Until then, I will continue fighting for my constituents.”
The 46-year-old Haitian-American lawmaker, along with her brother Edwin Cherfilus, 51, and several associates, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Miami. Prosecutors say the case involves a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract awarded in 2021 to the family health-care company the Cherfilus siblings operated in Miramar. That July, the company allegedly received an overpayment of $5 million, which prosecutors claim was misappropriated.
The indictment states the defendants moved the funds through multiple accounts to disguise their origin. Investigators allege a significant portion was directed to Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional campaign, while the remainder benefited the defendants personally.
Additional charges include conspiring to use straw donors to funnel money to friends and relatives for campaign contributions, and conspiring to file a false federal tax return. Prosecutors say the congresswoman and her 2021 tax preparer, David K. Spencer, 41, of Davie, misrepresented personal and political expenses as business deductions and inflated charitable contributions.
“Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “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.”
Cherfilus-McCormick has vowed to cooperate fully with investigators and maintain her work in Congress while the legal process unfolds.
