Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., speaks after being sworn in during a ceremony in the Broward County Commission chambers in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
The Justice Department said in a statement that in 2021, Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, operated a family healthcare company on a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract and received an overpayment of $5 million.
"The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to steal that $5 million and routed it through multiple accounts to disguise its source. Prosecutors allege that a substantial portion of the misappropriated funds was used as candidate contributions to Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign and for the personal benefit of the defendants," the DOJ said in its statement.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormic was indicted by a Miami grand jury for allegedly stealing $5 million in FEMA funds on Wed, Nov. 18, 2025, according to the Department of Justice. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images)
Attorney General Pam Bondi called Cherfilus-McCormick's alleged crime "particularly selfish" and "cynical." Additionally, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jason A. Reding Quiñones said that the "indictment shows no one is above the law."
"This individual and her family allegedly stole money from FEMA and then laundered it through friends toward her own personal benefits — including her campaign accounts. Today the FBI and partners at [DOJ] took action. No one is above the law," FBI Director Kash Patel wrote in a post on X.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years behind bars, according to the DOJ. If convicted, her brother faces up to 35 years, Leblanc faces up to 10 years and Spencer faces up to 33 years, prosecutors said.
Fox News Digital reached out Cherfilus-McCormick's office for comment.
Fox News' Bill Melugin and David Spunt contributed to this report.
Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-republican-move-censure-dem-accused-stealing-disaster-relief-money-campaign