U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida has been indicted on federal charges alleging the theft of $5 million in disaster funds.
The Justice Department announced the indictment, stating that a portion of these funds was subsequently used to support her 2021 campaign.
Federal prosecutors allege that the funds originated from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) overpayments received by Trinity Healthcare Services, a family health care company associated with Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick. These overpayments were reportedly made through a federally funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract.
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick was first elected to Congress in 2022 to represent Florida's 20th District, following a special election.
Prior to the federal indictment, a Florida state agency filed a lawsuit in December 2024 against Trinity Healthcare Services. The lawsuit alleged that the company overcharged the state by nearly $5.8 million for services provided during the pandemic and had not returned the funds. The Florida Division of Emergency Management identified the issue after a $5 million overpayment was noted. Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick served as the CEO of Trinity Healthcare Services at the time these transactions occurred.
In January, a report from the Office of Congressional Ethics indicated that Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick's income in 2021 exceeded her 2020 income by over $6 million, primarily due to approximately $5.75 million in consulting and profit-sharing fees from Trinity Healthcare Services. Subsequently, in July, the House Ethics Committee unanimously voted to reauthorize an investigative subcommittee to examine allegations involving the Representative.