A federal judge in Miami rescheduled the arraignment of U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick to Feb. 3 on Tuesday, granting the Florida Democrat two more weeks to finalize legal representation in her federal fraud case. Cherfilus-McCormick is charged with conspiring to steal $5 million in federal COVID-19 disaster funds. Judge Enjoliqué A. Lett granted the delay at the request of the defense; prosecutors did not object.
Cherfilus-McCormick, who represents Florida’s 20th Congressional District, faces 15 federal counts including theft of government funds, money laundering, and campaign finance violations arising from payments her family’s health care company received under a COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in 2021. She has maintained her innocence since federal charges were announced last year.
MIAMI — A federal judge rescheduled the arraignment of U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick to Feb. 3 on Tuesday, granting the Florida Democrat two more weeks to finalize legal representation in her federal fraud case.
Judge Enjoliqué A. Lett granted the delay after defense attorney David Oscar Markus told the court that the congresswoman’s finances were complicated. Markus said he was confident they would reach an agreement to secure legal counsel by next month’s court date. Prosecutors did not object.
Markus and Cherfilus-McCormick declined to speak with reporters before or after the hearing. Cherfilus-McCormick’s arraignment had previously been scheduled for late December before it was moved to Tuesday.
Charges
Cherfilus-McCormick, who represents Florida’s 20th Congressional District, has pleaded not guilty to 15 federal counts. The charges allege she conspired to steal $5 million in federal COVID-19 disaster funds that had been overpaid to her family’s health care company, Trinity Healthcare Services, in 2021, before she was elected to Congress. The company held a contract to register people for COVID-19 vaccinations.
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; and money laundering, as well as conspiracy charges associated with each count.
Alleged Scheme
According to the federal indictment, Cherfilus-McCormick’s brother Edwin Cherfilus requested $50,000 through the vaccination contract, but the company mistakenly received $5 million and did not return the difference.
The indictment alleges 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.
Prosecutors said the funds were distributed to various accounts, including those of friends and relatives, who then donated to Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional campaign.
Bail Conditions
Cherfilus-McCormick was arrested in November and freed on a $60,000 bond. Judge Lett ordered her to surrender her personal passport and restricted her travel to Florida, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and the Eastern District of Virginia. She has been allowed to retain her congressional passport to perform certain official duties.
Background
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. She has maintained her innocence since the charges were announced.