Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida was indicted in federal court on Wednesday on allegations that she stole millions of dollars in federal emergency relief funds and diverted a portion of the money to support her political campaign.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the alleged misconduct dates back to 2021, a year before Cherfilus-McCormick won her seat in Congress. At that time, a healthcare company she operated, Trinity Healthcare Services, was contracted to assist with Florida’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout using funds provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Prosecutors claim the company was mistakenly overpaid approximately $5 million for the contract.

Rather than returning the excess funds, Cherfilus-McCormick and other defendants allegedly conspired to keep the money and conceal its origins. The Justice Department stated that the funds were transferred through multiple bank accounts in an effort to disguise their source and ultimate use. Investigators further allege that a portion of the money was funneled into Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional campaign.

Specifically, prosecutors accuse the congresswoman of orchestrating a “straw donor” scheme, in which funds were distributed to friends and family members who then donated to her campaign under their own names, circumventing federal campaign finance laws. Such practices are illegal because they obscure the true source of political contributions.

“Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. She emphasized that public officials are not exempt from accountability, adding that the Justice Department would pursue the case based strictly on the evidence and ensure justice is served.

Cherfilus-McCormick faces multiple charges, including theft of government funds, money laundering, making and receiving illegal straw donations, and three counts of conspiracy. She was also charged with conspiracy to submit false information on a tax return. Prosecutors allege she filed tax documents with the Internal Revenue Service that falsely reported millions of dollars in business expenses and charitable contributions.

The indictment also names several individuals connected to Cherfilus-McCormick. Her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, who worked alongside her at Trinity Healthcare Services, was charged with theft of government funds and money laundering. Her former congressional chief of staff, Nadege Leblanc, faces charges related to straw donations, while her accountant, David Spencer, was charged with tax-related offenses.

Cherfilus-McCormick has strongly denied all allegations. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, she characterized the charges as politically motivated intimidation. In a statement provided to CBS News, she called the indictment “unjust, baseless, and a sham,” asserting her innocence and questioning the timing of the case. She said she has cooperated fully with authorities and expressed confidence that she will ultimately be vindicated in court, while continuing to serve her constituents.

Her legal team echoed those sentiments, describing her as a dedicated public servant and vowing to fight the charges to clear her reputation. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries acknowledged the indictment and stated that while he planned to issue a formal response after speaking with Cherfilus-McCormick, she remains innocent until proven guilty.

Separately, Trinity Healthcare Services was sued earlier this year by Florida emergency management officials over the same alleged overpayment. State officials claimed the company was mistakenly paid more than $5 million instead of $50,000 due to a clerical error and knowingly refused to return the funds. Trinity countered that the state waited nearly three years to raise the issue and said it was willing to discuss repayment, though it received no response. The lawsuit was ultimately dropped last year following mediation.

In addition to the criminal case, Cherfilus-McCormick has been under scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee. The Office of Congressional Ethics previously indicated that she may have sought community project funding that could have benefited a for-profit entity, raising further questions about her conduct while in office.