Florida rep. Sheila Cherfilus-mcCormick charged with stealing $5m in FEMA funds, making illegal campaign contributions

The Feeping Feeping lawsuit sent shockwaves through Florida’s political landscape after the announcement of US Sen. Sherfilus-McCormick (d-Fla.

Last week, a Miami Federal jury could block the case, indicting a second foreigner, his brother and two friends in a disaster recovery program that targets disaster relief dollars.

The prosecutors said that the group exploited the error of the clergy, which led to the Cherfilus-McCormick family company, receiving the services of Feak Health, which received an excess of FEMA $ 5 million instead of $ 50 000 was owed to the vaccination workers.

According to the lawsuit by the Department of Justice, in 2021, the health services of the Trinity, where Cherfilus-McCormick served as CEO before the election of Congress, was awarded a contract by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide staff for vaccination centers working in 19 cases.

Prosecutors said in July 2021, a “clerical error” led to FEMA transferring nearly $5 million to the company instead of a $50,000 payment.

Instead of reporting a major breach, the Cherfilus-McCormick claim and its members “deliberately” began to divert money from the complex to get its campaign elected.

Prosecutors say Congress and his former Chief of Staff, Nadege Leblanc, were able to get money by building a network of disaster donors tied to disaster relief funds. The maneuver allowed Cherfilus-McCormick to avoid the limits on contributions and hide the true source of the special spending spree during a competitive special election that he ended up winning.

The alleged scheme reportedly financed both political ambitions and personal luxury purchases, including a 3-carat yellow diamond ring valued at more than $100,000.

“Using disaster relief funds to enrich yourself is a selfish, deceitful crime,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement announcing the case. “No one is above the law, least of all the powerful people who cross the tax payers for tax benefits. We will follow the facts in this case and bring justice.”

The lawsuit also includes charges of filing false tax returns. Prosecutors say Cherfilus-McCormick and her tax adviser, David K. Spencer, conspired to inflate the tax cuts and improperly specify personal and political expenses as business records.

Spencer, Leblanc, and Edwin Cherfilus each appeared in federal court on Friday to face related charges. All three were released on bonds ranging from $500 to $1,500 and ordered to surrender their passports and limit travel while awaiting trial.

Rep. Cherfilus-McCorormick responded to the allegations, calling the charges “guilty, innocent, baseless, innocent, before declaring,” I am not guilty. “

“The time alone is curious and we clearly say that we have disturbed the most pressing issues in the country,” rep. Cherfilus-mccormick wrote. “Since day one, I have fully cooperated with all legal requests, and will continue to do so until this matter is resolved.”

His legal team echoed that sentiment, describing him as “a dedicated public servant dedicated to his constituencies.”

The investigation reportedly began during the bid administration and expanded following a transfer to the ethics office (now in the DRM ethics office). The House Medicines Commission publicly confirmed its ongoing investigation earlier this year.

The political fallout was swift. Democratic House Leader Hilfriatic Jeffries insisted that the foreigner is “innocent until proven guilty,” but his office confirmed that he will take a leave of absence from the foreign post in central and North Africa “while this matter continues.”

The Republicans decided to move more aggressively. Rep. Greg Steube (R-FLA.) is leaning toward X to introduce a deportation solution, writing:

“To defraud the Federal Government and disaster victims in the $5 MIX MIX runqualifier from running for elected office.”

A date for a hearing on the charges has not been set. If convicted on all counts, Cerfilus-McCorormick faces up to 53 years in federal prison.

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