The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency blocked former Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick on Friday from receiving government funding, citing a federal indictment.

Cherfilus-McCormick left Congress last month in the wake of a House ethics probe and allegations that she and her associates stole millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds.  

A grand jury indicted the former lawmaker last year for allegedly stealing $5 million in disaster relief funds from FEMA. The indictment alleges Cherfilus-McCormick, her brother Edwin Cherfilus and several co-defendants stole the money, laundered the proceeds, and used them to fund her 2021 congressional campaign.

The DHS and FEMA said it has indefinitely suspended the former lawmaker, her brother and their associates from receiving the funding while the court case plays out.

“Former Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick abused Americans’ trust in the most egregious way possible,” DHS General Counsel James Percival said. “She manipulated the COVID-19 crisis to funnel over $5 million dollars of FEMA relief funds to her and her family members. This is outright fraud. 

“I am proud that my office is taking the first step to ensure she is held accountable and American taxpayers’ money is protected from further misuse,” he added.

Federal prosecutors claimed the lawmaker and her brother worked for their family health-care company on a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in 2021, when FEMA mistakenly gave the company an extra $5 million. The pair then allegedly plotted to steal the money and hide the crime by spreading it across multiple accounts.

Cherfilus-McCormick and her 2021 tax preparer David Spencer, 41,  were also charged with conspiring to file a false federal tax return. If convicted, she faces up to 53 years in prison and her brother faces up to 35 years in prison.

The former lawmaker has denied the allegations.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.