In Miami, a federal judge has deferred yet another court date concerning U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who faces accusations tied to the misappropriation of $5 million in COVID-19 federal disaster funds. Initially scheduled for late December, the arraignment was first postponed to Tuesday, and then, at the request of the defense, further postponed to February 3.
Judge Enjoliqué A. Lett agreed to the latest request to provide additional time for Cherfilus-McCormick to complete arrangements regarding her legal representation. The request was made by defense lawyer David Oscar Markus, who described the congresswoman's financial situation as complex but expressed confidence that an agreement to secure her legal counsel would be reached ahead of the new hearing date. Prosecutors did not contest the postponement.
Neither Cherfilus-McCormick nor her attorney spoke with the press before or after the hearing. Since the charges were made public last year, the congresswoman has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Charged with 15 federal counts, the Florida Democrat is accused of participating in a scheme to unlawfully obtain funds exceeding $5 million, which were overpaid to her family’s health care enterprise, Trinity Healthcare Services. This occurred during 2021, prior to her election to Congress. The healthcare entity held a contract that involved registering individuals for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Cherfilus-McCormick was arrested in November and subsequently released on a bond of $60,000. As conditions of her release, she is required to relinquish her personal passport and limit her travel exclusively to Florida, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia's Eastern District. A congressional passport has been granted so she can perform her official duties.
The indictment details how, within approximately two months of receiving the payments in 2021, funds were allegedly misused. Prosecutors cite an expenditure of over $100,000 on a 3-carat yellow diamond ring linked to the congresswoman. Trinity Healthcare, owned by Cherfilus-McCormick’s family, had secured payments for its role in staffing COVID-19 vaccination efforts. An initial request of $50,000, made by her brother Edwin Cherfilus, mistakenly resulted in the disbursement of $5 million, which was not returned.
According to prosecuting authorities, the money was distributed across several accounts affiliated with friends and family members. Some of these funds were funneled back into campaign contributions supporting Cherfilus-McCormick's congressional run. She secured her seat representing Florida’s 20th District—which encompasses portions of Broward and Palm Beach counties—in a special election in January 2022 following the death of Rep. Alcee Hastings in 2021.
The charges brought against Cherfilus-McCormick include theft of government funds, the making and receipt of straw donor contributions, assisting in filing a false tax return, money laundering, and conspiracy related to each of these offenses.