Indicted House Democrat Changes Official Photo To Hide Expensive Jewelry

Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is facing renewed scrutiny after posting what appears to be a digitally altered version of her official House portrait — one that conspicuously omits a yellow diamond ring now central to a federal criminal indictment.

Cherfilus-McCormick was indicted by a grand jury last month on allegations that she and several co-defendants orchestrated a scheme to steal millions of dollars from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Prosecutors allege that the Florida lawmaker, her brother Edwin Cherfilus, and others unlawfully obtained approximately $5 million, laundered the funds, and used a portion of the money to bankroll her 2021 congressional campaign.

According to court documents, some of the allegedly stolen FEMA funds were spent on luxury items — including a yellow diamond ring. Prosecutors claim Cherfilus-McCormick cashed a cashier’s check for roughly $109,000 around Sept. 1, 2021, to purchase the ring, as first reported by Just the News.

The ring is clearly visible in Cherfilus-McCormick’s official House portrait. However, when she posted an image on X on Christmas Day, the jewelry was missing. The discrepancy did not go unnoticed, as Community Notes quickly flagged the apparent edit.

“From my family to yours, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a joyful, safe holiday season,” Cherfilus-McCormick wrote in the post.

The Washington Examiner reported that the yellow diamond ring closely resembles two rings sold by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Just the News later noted that the congresswoman’s office claimed the edit was made without her approval.

“This action was not directed, approved, or authorized by the Congresswoman,” her chief of staff Naomie Pierre-Louis told CBS12. “It was a staff-level decision made by well-intentioned individuals seeking to protect the Member’s reputation. It was unauthorized and should not have occurred. The image is the Congresswoman’s official portrait, and she has no intention of altering or editing it now or in the future.”

Cherfilus-McCormick has also flatly denied any involvement in money laundering.

“This is an unjust, baseless, sham indictment — and I am innocent,” she said in a statement last month. “The timing alone is curious and clearly meant to distract from far more pressing national issues. From day one, I have fully cooperated with every lawful request, and I will continue to do so until this matter is resolved … I look forward to my day in court.”

Federal prosecutors, however, paint a far more damning picture. They allege that Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother exploited a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in 2021, using their family-owned health-care company to receive roughly $5 million more than the firm was entitled to. Authorities claim the excess funds were deliberately siphoned off, concealed through multiple accounts, and partially redirected to support the congresswoman’s political campaign, while the remainder was allegedly used for personal expenses by other defendants.

The indictment further accuses Cherfilus-McCormick of conspiring with her tax preparer to file a false federal tax return.

If convicted on all counts, Cherfilus-McCormick could face up to 53 years in prison. Her brother could receive a sentence of as many as 35 years.

The criminal case compounds an already troubled ethical history. Even before the federal indictment, Cherfilus-McCormick was under bipartisan scrutiny for her financial dealings tied to her family business, Trinity Healthcare Services.

In late 2024, Florida’s Division of Emergency Management sued Trinity Healthcare Services — which Cherfilus-McCormick led prior to entering Congress — alleging the company overcharged the state by nearly $5.8 million for COVID-19 vaccine registration services and refused to return the funds. State officials said the issue came to light after a single $5 million overpayment set off internal alarms, raising broader concerns about the company’s handling of taxpayer-funded contracts during the pandemic.

In July, the House Ethics Committee unanimously voted to extend its investigation into whether Cherfilus-McCormick improperly benefited from government contracts linked to her company — a rare move that placed her under increased scrutiny well before federal prosecutors stepped in.

As ethics probes and criminal proceedings continue, the controversy surrounding a missing diamond ring has become a symbol of deeper questions about accountability, misuse of emergency funds, and the erosion of public trust in Washington.