- Federal prosecutors are seeking a 7-year prison sentence for former New York Rep. George Santos. Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft in August 2024.
- Prosecutors described Santos as a “pathological liar and fraudster.” They accuse him of using fraudulent schemes to enrich himself and mislead the public. Santos, who faced scrutiny over his campaign finances, denied allegations for months before resigning.
- His lawyer is requesting a sentence of less than 24 months, citing remorse and desperation related to his campaign. Santos has agreed to pay $373,749.97 in restitution.
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After pleading guilty to wire fraud and identity theft in August 2024, federal prosecutors are seeking a seven-year prison sentence for former New York Republican Representative George Santos.
In court filings Friday, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York argued the sentence is “necessary to accurately reflect the seriousness of Santos’s unparalleled crimes.” The court called Santos “a pathological liar and fraudster.”
“Santos planned and executed an assortment of fraudulent schemes and leveraged them and a fictitious life story to enrich himself and capture one of the highest offices in the government of the United States,” federal prosecutors wrote. “He lied to his campaign staff, his supporters, his putative employer and congressional colleagues, and the American public. Santos’s conduct has made a mockery of our election system.”
What led up to this moment?
After being elected to office in November 2022, reports on Santos began surfacing, alleging he was lying about his biography. Santos had painted a picture of his life, claiming to be a wealthy businessman making $750,000 a year and that he graduated from elite universities.
Investigations later revealed that many of these claims were fabricated or exaggerated.
Santos has faced scrutiny over his campaign finances, particularly regarding questionable and potentially illegal financial transactions.
Calls grew for his resignation from the U.S. House; however, Santos denied the allegations for months, calling them a “witch hunt.” He spent almost a year in office before resigning.
Santos in trouble with the law
Santos reported lending significant sums of money to his campaign, including a $500,000 loan, which raised questions about the source of those funds. In October 2023, prosecutors charged Santos, saying he did not have the funds to make such loans and that he had $8,000 in his personal and business bank accounts.
Federal election laws require candidates to disclose the source of large loans or contributions. However, Santos’ filings did not provide clear details about where this money came from. That prompted concerns about transparency and possible violations of campaign finance laws.
Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in August 2024.
“He has accepted full responsibility for his actions, as evidenced by his guilty plea,” his lawyer wrote in a court memo. “Mr. Santos understands the gravity of his conduct and expresses genuine remorse,” his lawyer continued. “His conduct, though involving dishonesty and abuse of trust, stemmed largely from a misguided desperation related to his political campaign, rather than inherent malice.”
A lawyer for Santos asked the judge for a sentence of less than 24 months in prison. His lawyer says his client has agreed to pay a total of $373,749.97 in restitution.
