Former U.S. Representative George Santos and son of a Brazilian immigrant was sentenced on Friday (25) to 87 months — over seven years — in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The 36-year-old Republican from New York admitted to a series of criminal schemes that exploited his political campaign to defraud donors, misappropriate funds, and steal identities. In addition to his prison term, Santos was ordered to pay $373,000 in restitution to his victims.
Santos’ defense asked for a minimum sentence of 2 years, but Judge Seybert followed federal prosecutors’ recommendation for an 87-month prison sentence. Prosecutors argued that Mr. Santos needed to serve extensive time to reflect the “seriousness of his unparalleled crimes’ and “to protect the public from being defrauded.”
A Pattern of Deception
Santos’s conviction stems from a pattern of fraudulent behavior during and after his 2022 congressional campaign. He was found to have stolen the identities of at least 11 individuals, including family members, to make unauthorized campaign donations. Additionally, he fraudulently reported financial information to the Federal Election Commission and collected unemployment benefits while employed
The case against Santos included 23 charges, encompassing wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements. Prosecutors emphasized his lack of remorse, citing his public statements and social media posts that portrayed himself as a victim of prosecutorial overreach.
Expulsion and Aftermath
Santos was expelled from Congress in December 2023, just over a year into his term, following revelations of his deceptive conduct. Despite the severity of his actions, he continued to seek public attention through platforms like Cameo and OnlyFans, offering personalized videos to fans and attempting to cover his legal expenses.
In a statement before sentencing, Santos expressed resignation to his fate, thanking both supporters and critics. He also promoted his Cameo video service, highlighting his ongoing efforts to maintain a public presence despite the legal challenges he faces.
Santos is scheduled to report to prison by July 25, 2025.
He told The New York Times he would not ask for a pardon because he needed to take “accountability and responsibility” for what he did.
Sources: AP and The New York Times