Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Chafferas McCormick has been indicted by the federal government on charges that she orchestrated a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving FEMA disaster relief funds and funneled illegal contributions to her political campaign, prosecutors said. Federal investigators allege that the congressman stole more than $5 million intended for disaster relief programs and diverted the funds through a network of fake nonprofits and private associates.
Prosecutors say the scheme included submitting fraudulent reimbursement claims to FEMA for community relief projects that were never implemented or greatly overstated. The indictment alleges that the congressman then diverted some of the stolen funds to his campaign through the use of disguised donations, straw donors and bundles of coordinated contributions to circumvent federal campaign finance limits.
Federal authorities announced that the investigation expanded after auditors identified irregularities in FEMA grant spending related to the congressman’s district. The U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General jointly led the investigation, which uncovered what officials described as “intentional and systematic abuse of federal disaster relief resources.”
The lawmaker has denied any wrongdoing through his lawyer, calling the charges “politically motivated” and vowing to fight them in court. If convicted on all charges, she could face decades in federal prison, forfeiture of assets related to the scheme, and permanent banishment. A trial date has not yet been set.
