George Santos Sentenced to Over Seven Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft
Former congressman ordered to pay $374,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to multiple federal charges
- Santos has been sentenced to seven years and three months in prison
- He has been ordered to pay at least $374,000 in restitution.
- Further allegations followed, including misuse of campaign funds for personal expenses like luxury goods
Former U.S. Representative George Santos has been sentenced to seven years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and other federal charges tied to a sweeping campaign finance and unemployment fraud scheme.
The 36-year-old Republican, who represented parts of Long Island and Queens, was sentenced on Friday in a New York court. He will begin serving his prison term on July 25.
Federal prosecutors had requested a sentence of 87 months, citing the seriousness of the offenses and the scope of deception. Santos’ legal team had pushed for the minimum sentence of two years, but the judge ultimately sided with the prosecution, expressing skepticism over his remorse.
“You got elected with your words, most of which were lies,” the judge said during sentencing.
In a tearful statement to the court, Santos apologized for his actions, saying, “I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead.”
Santos admitted to a range of offenses, including using donor credit card information to fraudulently charge more than $44,000 in campaign expenses, applying for unemployment benefits while still employed, and submitting false financial disclosures to the Federal Election Commission and the House Ethics Committee.
He has been ordered to pay at least $374,000 in restitution.
Santos’s political career unraveled after a 2022 New York Times investigation revealed he had fabricated large portions of his résumé, including claims of holding degrees and employment at major financial firms. Further allegations followed, including misuse of campaign funds for personal expenses like luxury goods, Botox treatments, and OnlyFans subscriptions.
Expelled from Congress in December 2023—becoming the first member in over 20 years to be removed—Santos has since attempted to raise money through the celebrity video platform Cameo. He has stated he will not seek a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, whom he has publicly supported.
Santos was charged with 23 federal crimes in total, capping a meteoric rise and fall in American politics.
