Embattled Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) quietly entered a Miami federal courthouse Tuesday, posting bond as she confronts a sweeping indictment alleging she diverted millions in disaster relief funds. The congresswoman had surrendered to authorities earlier in the day and appeared in court shackled at the wrists, while her husband watched from the gallery looking visibly distressed.
Federal prosecutors accuse Cherfilus-McCormick of helping siphon $5 million in FEMA relief money through a family-owned company, with a portion of the funds allegedly funneled into her own congressional campaign. The 15-count indictment includes charges of theft of government funds, money laundering, straw donor schemes, and filing false tax returns. If convicted on all counts, she faces more than 50 years in prison and over $2 million in fines.
