The indictment against Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick exposes a conspiracy to embezzle more than $5 million dollars using straw donors, phony tax documents and even the purchase of 3 carat yellow diamond ring. Cherfilus-McCormick wants to paint the indictment as a political intimidation tactic. But prosectors allege the Congresswoman is the one to blame for a conspiracy involving her family, friends and her employees.
The Department of Justice alleges Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother Edwin Cherfilus “knowingly and willfully” entered into a conspiracy to “keep the stolen funds and convert the funds for their own use and for the benefit of Cherfilus-McCormick, her election campaign committee and others.”
The charges include conspiracy to commit the theft of government funds, theft of government funds, money laundering, conspiracy to make and receive straw donor contributions and conspiracy to make a false and fraudulent statement on a tax return.
As part of the nine money laundering counts, the DOJ listed transfers Cherfilus-McCormick made to other accounts. This includes a $1.8 million dollar transfers to Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother and $1.14 million dollars to her campaign.
The indictment states Cherfilus-McCormick also used a $109,000 cashier’s check to purchase a 3.14 carat “vivid yellow diamond ring.”
In addition to forfeiture of funds related to the $5 million dollars, Cherfilus-Cormick is facing a maximum of fifty-three years in Federal prison.
