Florida Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Faces $5M Fraud Probe

Florida Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and her family have come under intense scrutiny following a federal indictment that accuses her of misusing COVID-19 relief funds for personal and political gain. The charges highlight the family’s business ties and campaign finances connected to her rise in politics.

The Department of Justice announced on November 19, 2025, that a federal grand jury charged Sheila with illegally diverting $5 million in COVID-19 disaster relief funds. Prosecutors claim a portion of this money was then used to fund her successful 2021 congressional campaign.

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democratic representative from Florida’s 20th District, comes from a Haitian-American family with deep roots in the healthcare industry. Her stepfather, Dr. Gabriel Smith, co-founded Trinity Health Care Services, a home-health company where Sheila later served as vice president and eventually CEO. Her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, is also implicated in the case, with both siblings accused of conspiring to mislead FEMA overpayments.

Sheila was born to Haitian parents and grew up in Florida after moving to Miramar. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Howard University and a law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law. Her mother, Marie Cherfilus, supported the family through business courses and night work, a background that Sheila has said inspired her commitment to public service.

Trinity Health Care Services received a $5 million overpayment from FEMA in 2021 under a COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract, according to the indictment. Prosecutors allege Sheila and her brother routed the excess funds through various accounts to hide their source, and then used a “substantial portion” for her congressional campaign. Sheila’s 2021 tax preparer, David K. Spencer, is also charged with conspiring to file a false tax return, allegedly inflating charitable deductions and misclassifying political expenses as business costs.

Sheila first ran for Congress in 2018 and 2020 but did not win. She secured a seat in a special election in 2021 after the death of Congressman Alcee Hastings, investing millions of her own money in her campaign. She has been married to attorney Corlie McCormick since 2017, and they have two children together.

If convicted, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick could face up to 53 years in prison, while her brother Edwin could face up to 35 years. The indictment underscores federal efforts to hold public officials accountable for misusing government relief funds.