Miami — A federal judge in Miami once again rescheduled a hearing for Tuesday so the indicted Florida congresswoman could… Conspiracy to steal $5 million Federal COVID-19 disaster funds can finalize their legal team.
Judge Injolike Lett granted U.S. Rep. Sheila Chervilos-McCormick’s request for an additional two-week extension, postponing the arraignment to February 3. The plaintiffs did not object.
Defense attorney David Oscar Marcus told the judge that Chervilus McCormick’s financial situation is complex, but he is confident they will be able to reach an agreement to secure legal advice by the court date next month. The congresswoman was previously scheduled to be summoned Late DecemberBut it was postponed to Tuesday.
Marcus and Chervilus McCormick declined to speak with reporters before or after Tuesday’s hearing, but she has maintained her innocence since the charges were announced last year.
Chervilus McCormick, a Democrat, has pleaded not guilty. She faces 15 federal charges accusing her of stealing money that was overpaid to her family’s health care company, Trinity Healthcare Services, in 2021, before she was elected to Congress. The company has a contract to register people for coronavirus vaccines.
Cherfilus-McCormick was arrested in November and then released on $60,000 bail. In addition to bail, the judge said Chervilus McCormick must surrender her personal passport and is only allowed to travel between Florida, Washington, D.C., Maryland and the Eastern District of Virginia.
She was allowed to retain her congressional passport to perform certain duties of her job.
According to the federal indictment, prosecutors said that within two months of receiving the money in 2021, more than $100,000 was spent on a 3-carat yellow diamond ring for the congresswoman.
The indictment alleges that the health care company owned by the Chervilus McCormick family received payments through an employment contract for coronavirus vaccinations. Her brother, Edwin Cervelos, asked for $50,000, but they mistakenly received $5 million and did not return the difference.
Money received by Trinity Healthcare was distributed to various accounts, including those of friends and relatives, who then donated to Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional campaign, prosecutors said.
Chervilus McCormick won a special election in January 2022 to represent Florida’s 20th District, which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, after the death of Rep. Alcee Hastings in 2021.
The charges she faces include theft of government funds; making and receiving donor contributions; Aiding and assisting in making a false and fraudulent statement on a tax return; and money laundering, in addition to the conspiracy charges associated with each charge.