U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick appeared in a Miami federal court on Tuesday, where a judge set her bond at $60,000 following charges that she conspired to steal $5 million in federal disaster relief funds meant for COVID-19 response efforts.
According to The Associated Press, the Florida Democrat faces 15 federal counts accusing her of misappropriating funds overpaid to her family’s health care company, Trinity Healthcare Services, which had a contract to register individuals for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Prosecutors claim the company received $5 million in error after requesting $50,000 and failed to return the excess.
Cherfilus-McCormick stood alongside her attorneys as Judge Enjoliqué Lett read all 15 charges. She confirmed she understood the accusations, the South Florida SunSentinel reported.
In addition to bail, the judge ordered her to surrender her personal passport and restricted her travel outside Florida, with exceptions for Washington, D.C., Maryland, and the Eastern District of Virginia. She will retain her congressional passport for official duties.
The indictment, unsealed earlier this month, details how more than $100,000 of the funds was spent on a 3-carat yellow diamond ring for Cherfilus-McCormick within two months of receipt. Prosecutors say the money was further distributed to friends and relatives, who then donated portions to her congressional campaign.
Cherfilus-McCormick, who won a special election in January 2022 to represent Florida’s 20th District after the death of Rep. Alcee Hastings, denies all charges through her attorney, David Oscar Markus.
The charges include theft of government funds, making and receiving straw donor contributions, aiding and assisting a false and fraudulent tax return, money laundering, and conspiracy related to each of these counts.
In a statement from her chief of staff, the congresswoman said she does not plan to resign and maintains her innocence. “She has cooperated with every lawful request and will continue to do so until the matter is resolved,” the statement said.
The case now moves forward amid intense scrutiny, with Cherfilus-McCormick continuing her duties in Congress while facing serious federal allegations.
