Florida Congresswoman Defends Innocence Amid $5M COVID Fund Theft Allegations

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MIAMI – Outside a federal courthouse in Miami on Monday, U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick once again declared her innocence regarding allegations she conspired to misappropriate $5 million in federal COVID-19 disaster relief funds.

Although she was initially set to be arraigned, Cherfilus-McCormick’s attorney asked for a postponement until January 20 to allow time to solidify her defense team. This request was granted without objection from prosecutors, as Judge Lisette Reid agreed to the new date in a hearing that concluded in under five minutes.

After her court appearance, Cherfilus-McCormick addressed the media, stating, “I want to clearly assert my innocence. I have not stolen any funds whatsoever. My dedication remains with the people of Florida and my district.”

The Democratic representative has entered a plea of not guilty to 15 federal charges. These charges allege that she improperly acquired funds that were overpaid to her family’s business, Trinity Healthcare Services, back in 2021. The company was involved in a government contract to facilitate COVID-19 vaccination registrations.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, said the case involves mistakes that generally aren’t even misdemeanors, let alone felonies. He said he believes the case is politically motivated.

Cherfilus-McCormick was arrested in November and then freed on a $60,000 bond. In addition to bail, the judge said Cherfilus-McCormick must surrender her personal passport, and is allowed to travel only between Florida, Washington, D.C., Maryland and the Eastern District of Virginia.

She has been allowed to retain her congressional passport so she can perform certain duties for her job.

According to the federal indictment, prosecutors said that within two months of receiving the funds in 2021, more than $100,000 had been spent on a 3-carat yellow diamond ring for the congresswoman.

The health care company owned by Cherfilus-McCormick’s family had received payments through a COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract, the indictment said. Her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, requested $50,000, but they mistakenly received $5 million and didn’t return the difference.

Prosecutors said the funds received by Trinity Healthcare were distributed to various accounts, including to friends and relatives who then donated to Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign for Congress.

Cherfilus-McCormick won a special election in January 2022 to represent Florida’s 20th District, which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, after Rep. Alcee Hastings died in 2021.

The charges she faces include theft of government funds; making and receiving straw donor contributions; aiding and assisting a false and fraudulent statement on a tax return; money laundering, as well as conspiracy charges associated with each of those counts.

According to a previous statement provided by Cherfilus-McCormick’s chief of staff, she doesn’t plan to resign from office. She said she has cooperated with “every lawful request” and will continue to do so until the matter is resolved.

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Florida Congresswoman Defends Innocence Amid $5M COVID Fund Theft Allegations

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