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A South Florida lawmaker has been indicted by the federal government for allegedly stealing Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to pay for his congressional campaign, prosecutors announced this week.
Jason A. Redding Quiñones, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, announced on Wednesday, November 19, that Sheila Charfilas McCormick, 46, and her brother Edwin Charfilas, 51, used their family’s health care company in 2021 on a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in connection with this case.
Quiñones announced in a news release in July 2021 that his family’s company received a $5 million overpayment from FEMA funds. Prosecutors allege that Charfilas McCormick then stole the disaster funds, laundered the proceeds, and used the funds to support his 2021 congressional campaign.
Democrat Charfilas McCormick represents part of the state, including western Palm Beach County, in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was elected in a special election in January 2022 following the death of Alcee Hastings in April 2021, the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.
Shelia Chafferas McCormick indicted on charges of falsifying political spending
A federal grand jury in Miami handed down an indictment on Wednesday, November 19, indicting the deputy and several co-defendants in connection with the case.
The indictment alleges that the defendants falsely claimed political spending and other personal expenses as business deductions, and inflated Charfilas McCormick’s charitable contributions to reduce his tax liability.
USA TODAY reached out to the brothers, who prosecutors said live in Miramar, for comment, but could not immediately be reached.
This is a developing story.
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund
