George Santos, a former US congressman and son of Brazilian immigrat, pleaded guilty to fraud charges during a court hearing on Monday (19). The sentence could reach up to 22 years in prison, according to the Reuters news agency.
In May 2023, Santos was accused of laundering campaign funds to pay for personal expenses, as well as charging donors’ credit cards without their consent.
Investigations also indicate that the former congressman received benefits intended for unemployed people, even though he was working, during the pandemic.
On Monday, during a court hearing in New York, he pleaded guilty to the charges. However, the sentence will not be announced until February 7, 2025.
“I deeply regret my conduct and the harm it has caused. I accept full responsibility for my actions,” he told the court.
Santos will avoid a federal trial that was scheduled to begin in September. The jury would hear testimony from about 40 witnesses, including members of his congressional campaign, staff and family members.
Reuters reported that Santos’ confession could guarantee a minimum of two years in prison. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that the former congressman could face more than six years in prison, in addition to being ordered to pay at least US$370,000.
The scandals led to the former Republican congressman having his mandate revoked in the United States Congress at the end of last year. The seat ended up being filled by a Democrat.
Source: G1, Reuters, CNN and AP