November 20, 2025 – In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through Florida’s political landscape, U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), a trailblazing Haitian-American lawmaker and the first Haitian-born woman elected to Congress from Florida, has been indicted by a federal grand jury. The serious charges include theft of government funds, money laundering, and making illegal campaign contributions, all tied to an alleged scheme involving a $5 million overpayment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The allegations, detailed in an indictment unsealed Wednesday in Miami, center on a 2021 COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract awarded to Trinity Healthcare Services, a family-owned health care company run by Cherfilus-McCormick and her relatives. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the 46-year-old congresswoman and her 51-year-old brother, Edwin Cherfilus, both of Miramar, Florida, conspired to retain and launder the overpaid funds, which were intended for pandemic response efforts. Prosecutors claim the siblings funneled the money through a web of bank accounts to obscure its origins, with a significant portion allegedly diverted to directly support Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign or for personal enrichment.
The indictment paints a picture of a sophisticated operation. Beyond the initial laundering, Cherfilus-McCormick and co-defendant Nadege Leblanc, 46, of Miramar, are accused of orchestrating a “straw donor” scheme. Under this arrangement, FEMA contract funds were reportedly passed to friends and relatives, who then contributed the money to the campaign as if it were their own, violating federal campaign finance laws. Additionally, Cherfilus-McCormick and her 2021 tax preparer, David K. Spencer, 41, of Davie, face charges of conspiring to file a false federal tax return, including claiming improper business deductions and inflating charitable contributions to reduce her tax liabilities.
If convicted on all counts, the consequences could be severe. Cherfilus-McCormick faces a maximum sentence of up to 53 years in prison, while her brother could receive up to 35 years, Leblanc up to 10 years, and Spencer up to 33 years. The DOJ emphasized that the case underscores accountability, with U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones stating that “no one is above the law.”
Cherfilus-McCormick’s journey to Congress is one of firsts and resilience. Representing Florida’s 20th Congressional District—a diverse area spanning parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties—she won a bitterly contested special election in January 2022 to succeed the late Rep. Alcee Hastings, a civil rights icon who held the seat for three decades. Her victory in the Democratic primary, decided by a razor-thin margin of just five votes over former Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness, marked her as a fierce advocate for immigrant communities, particularly Haitian-Americans. Since taking office, she has championed issues like health care access, disaster relief, and protections for vulnerable populations—a stark contrast to the charges now accusing her of exploiting those very systems.
The alleged misconduct ties back to her pre-Congress career. Trinity Healthcare Services, co-owned by Cherfilus-McCormick and her family, secured the FEMA contract amid the height of the pandemic. An overpayment of $5 million was issued, which the defendants allegedly failed to return, instead laundering it for political and personal gain. This isn’t the first scrutiny of the company’s finances; in December 2024, a Florida state agency sued Trinity for allegedly overcharging nearly $5.8 million for pandemic-related work and refusing to refund it. A January 2025 report from the Office of Congressional Ethics also flagged her dramatic income surge that year—over $6 million more than in 2020—largely from consulting fees tied to Trinity.
In a defiant statement released Wednesday evening, Cherfilus-McCormick decried the indictment as “an unjust, baseless, sham indictment” and vowed to fight the charges while maintaining her innocence. Her legal team, including attorneys David Oscar Markus, Margot Moss, and Melissa Madrigal, echoed this sentiment, describing her as a “committed public servant dedicated to her constituents.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, speaking to reporters, emphasized that Cherfilus-McCormick is “innocent until proven guilty” and plans to discuss the matter with her.
The case has drawn sharp criticism from across the aisle. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled the alleged actions “a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” vowing to pursue justice. Republican leaders have called for her immediate resignation, while Democrats urge restraint amid the ongoing legal process.
As the investigation unfolds, this indictment not only threatens Cherfilus-McCormick’s political future but also raises broader questions about oversight of pandemic-era contracts and the intersection of family businesses and public service. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge [redacted for ongoing proceedings], with an arraignment scheduled for next week.
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Source: 7News Miami CBS Morning
[…] accusing her of stealing and laundering roughly $5 million in FEMA COVID-19 relief funds, U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) faced a swarm of cameras outside her Capitol Hill office and delivered a defiant 60-second […]