Outside a Miami federal courthouse on Dec. 29, U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick reiterated that she is innocent as she faces federal charges alleging she conspired to steal $5 million in COVID-19 disaster funds. Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat, said she wanted “to make it very clear that I am innocent,” adding that “In no way did I steal any kind of funds.” She also said she is “committed to the people of Florida and my district.”
Cherfilus-McCormick’s arraignment was initially scheduled for the Dec. 29 hearing, but her lawyer asked that the proceeding be moved to Jan. 20 so she could “finalize her legal team.” Prosecutors did not object, and Judge Lisette Reid agreed to the new date. The hearing lasted less than five minutes.
After leaving the courthouse, Cherfilus-McCormick made her remarks as her attorney, David Oscar Markus, addressed the substance of the case. Markus said the matter involved mistakes that he said generally are not misdemeanors, let alone felonies, and he argued he believes the case is politically motivated.
Cherfilus-McCormick has pleaded not guilty. The charges total 15 federal counts that prosecutors say involve funds overpaid in 2021 to Trinity Healthcare Services, a health care company tied to her family. Prosecutors said the company had a contract to register people for COVID-19 vaccinations and that the difference between what was requested and what was received was not returned.
According to the federal indictment cited by the report, more than $100,000 was spent on a 3-carat yellow diamond ring for Cherfilus-McCormick within two months of receiving the funds in 2021. Prosecutors said her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, requested $50,000 but that they mistakenly received $5 million. Prosecutors also said the payments that Trinity Healthcare received were distributed through various accounts, including accounts for friends and relatives who then donated to Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign for Congress.
Cherfilus-McCormick was arrested in November and was released on a $60,000 bond. In addition to bail, Judge Reid ordered that she surrender her personal passport and limited her travel to Florida, Washington, D.C., Maryland and the Eastern District of Virginia. The report also said she has been allowed to keep her congressional passport so she could perform certain duties for her job.
The charges 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; and conspiracy charges associated with each of those counts. 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.
In a statement provided earlier by Cherfilus-McCormick’s chief of staff, she said she does not 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.