A federal case has begun against a Florida lawmaker after a grand jury said she took part in a plan to move more than $5m in disaster aid into her own political effort. The case centers on funds from a federal disaster program. These funds were meant to help people in need. The indictment says the money was moved through many accounts to hide where it came from. It also says the funds were later used to support a past campaign and for other personal needs. The lawmaker now faces many charges. The case also includes several people close to her. Each person faces charges linked to the same plan. The main claim is simple. The money came from a federal program. The funds should not have been used for a campaign. The funds were not meant for personal use. The case says the funds were used anyway. The plan described in the indictment was direct. A family healthcare company in Florida received large disaster aid payments. These payments came from a federal program meant to support recovery after disasters. The indictment says the company received more money than it should have. It calls these extra funds “overpayments”. The case says the lawmaker and her brother took the extra money. They then moved the funds through many accounts. This step made it harder to see the true source of the money. The money was later moved again. This time the funds were used to support a political campaign. The lawmaker was running for a seat in Congress at the time. The indictment says most of the misused funds went into that effort. The rest went toward personal use by the people named in the case. The grand jury also pointed to another part of the plan. This part involved campaign donations. The indictment says the lawmaker and one staff member worked with people close to them. They used the disaster money to make campaign donations under other names. These donors were friends or family members. The case calls these donations “straw donor” payments. It says the goal was to make the campaign look stronger than it was. Federal officials called the misuse of disaster aid a serious act. The lead attorney on the case said that using these funds for personal gain harms people who need real relief. The statement said the office will continue the case and follow the facts to the end. It also said the law applies to all people, no matter their job or status. The case includes a tax-related charge as well. The indictment says the lawmaker and a tax preparer worked together on a false tax return. This return did not show the full story of the funds. The case says this step was part of the larger plan to hide the source of the money. The tax preparer now faces charges tied to this act. The lawmaker faces a long list of charges. If she is found guilty, the possible prison time could reach more than fifty years. Each charge adds to the total. These charges include fraud, conspiracy, and tax-related counts. The court will now look at each part of the case. The lawmaker will have the chance to respond to each claim in court. The case has gained attention because of the size of the funds and the way they were moved. Federal disaster funds are often used to help people recover from storms, floods, and other crises. These funds must be used with care. When money is taken from these programs, it reduces the help people can get. The indictment says this case is an example of that harm. The coming court steps will take time. More records will be reviewed. More details will be shared in court. The lawmaker and the others named in the case will present their own side. The judge and jury will decide what happened and what the right outcome should be. The case now moves forward as one of the largest recent claims of Fema funds misuse. It also raises new questions about how disaster funds are checked and how campaigns handle donations. The final ruling may shape future rules for both areas.