PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — A South Florida member of Congress is facing federal criminal charges tied to pandemic relief money that prosecutors say was turned into campaign cash.
A federal grand jury in Miami has indicted U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick on charges she and several co-defendants stole a $5 million FEMA overpayment, laundered the money through multiple accounts, and used a substantial portion to boost her 2021 congressional campaign, according to the indictment.
Cherfilus-McCormick, 46, represents Florida’s 20th Congressional District and lives in Miramar. Prosecutors say she and her brother, 51-year-old Edwin Cherfilus, also of Miramar, worked through their family health-care company on a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in 2021. In July of that year, the company received an overpayment of $5 million in FEMA funds.
The indictment alleges the defendants conspired to steal the $5 million rather than return it. Prosecutors say the money was routed through multiple bank accounts to disguise its source, with a significant share used as contributions to Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional race and for the personal benefit of those involved.
It also outlines what officials describe as a “straw donor” scheme. According to federal investigators, Cherfilus-McCormick and co-defendant Nadege Leblanc, 46, of Miramar, funneled FEMA money to friends and relatives who then made campaign donations in their own names, concealing the true source of the funds.
In a separate category of charges, Cherfilus-McCormick and her 2021 tax preparer, 41-year-old David K. Spencer of Davie, are accused of conspiring to file a false federal tax return by labeling political spending and personal expenses as business deductions and inflating charitable contributions to reduce her tax bill.
Federal officials issued sharp statements as the charges were announced.
“Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in the news release. “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 said the charges reflect a commitment to protect taxpayer money and accountability. “Today’s indictment shows no one is above the law,” he said. “When FEMA funds are diverted for personal or political gain, it erodes trust and harms us all.”
The FBI Miami Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation Florida Field Office are handling the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandra L. López and Yeney Hernández and DOJ Criminal Division Trial Attorney John P. Taddei are prosecuting the case.
If convicted on all counts, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison. Prosecutors say Edwin Cherfilus faces up to 35 years, Leblanc up to 10 years, and Spencer up to 33 years. Sentencing in federal court will ultimately be determined by a judge.
While the indictment dominates political attention, Cherfilus-McCormick’s local record remains part of the public conversation in Palm Beach County. In an August 2024 Board of County Commissioners workshop, she presented a $2.25 million Community Project Funding check to the commission to support affordable workforce housing. According to county documents, that funding is intended to provide gap financing for acquiring, constructing, and equipping condominiums, multi-family rental units, single-family homes, and townhomes, leveraging the county’s $200 million Workforce and Affordable Housing Bond Program.
At that time, Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Sachs thanked the congresswoman publicly for the funding, saying the dollars would support the county’s efforts to retain residents who are being priced out. Sachs said essential workers and service providers “are basically being priced out of our area” and that the funding “will give us an opportunity to build affordable housing that we are hopeful will help ease the effects of this housing crisis.”
Cherfilus-McCormick is strongly denying the criminal allegations. In a written statement, she called the case “an unjust, baseless, sham indictment — and I am innocent,” adding that she has “fully cooperated with every lawful request” and will continue to do so. “I am deeply grateful for the support of my district, and I remain confident that the truth will prevail,” she wrote. “I look forward to my day in court. Until then, I will continue fighting for my constituents.”
The indictment is a charging document, not a conviction. All four defendants are presumed innocent unless and until the government proves its case beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
