Ex-US Rep. George Santos faces sentencing for fraud after duping donors and voters

[mastercode]

BOOK INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TICKETS LOCAL FLIGHTS HOTELS BOOKINGS WORLDWIDE AND MORE AT CHEAPEST RATE EVER! CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FLIGHT AND RECEIVE YOUR FLIGHT TICKET INSTANTLY

Ex-US Rep. George Santos faces sentencing for fraud after duping donors and voters

Former U.S. Rep. George Santos arrives at court in Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah, File)

2025-04-25T04:01:47Z

                                       

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — Disgraced former U.S. Rep.         data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-santos">George Santos, who lied about his life story and defrauded donors, faces sentencing in federal court on Friday.

The New York Republican, who served in Congress for barely a year before being ousted in 2023 by his House colleagues,         data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-plea-court-new-york-90741d068fd94090419fc0fd79be30cc">pleaded guilty last summer to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

He admitted to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of nearly a dozen people, including his family members, to fund his winning campaign. As part of a plea deal, Santos has agreed to pay roughly $580,000 in penalties in addition to prison time.

The 36-year-old told The Associated Press he’s resigned to his fate.

“I’m doing as well as any human being would be doing given the circumstances,” Santos wrote in a text message on Thursday. “I will be in court tomorrow, ready to face the music.”

   
       
   

Prosecutors are seeking seven years in federal prison for Santos,         data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-fraud-guilty-plea-sentencing-622f8b7288094d06b6fad2dce68421a2">arguing in recent court filings that he “remains unrepentant” and has not shown genuine remorse, despite what he claims.

They cite recent comments Santos has made on social media in which he casts himself as a victim of prosecutorial overreach.

   
       




   

In a letter to the court this week, Santos stressed that he         data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-fraud-sentencing-prison-1a5f54eb7ba742e91cffef748e6b1b1b">remains “profoundly sorry” for his crimes but objects to the sentence being sought, which he said is overly harsh.

Santos’ lawyers have called for a two-year prison stint, which is the mandatory minimum sentence for aggravated identity theft.

   
   
       
           
               
   
   


   
   

       
   

           
       
   
   

They argue such a penalty is comparable to sentences handed to         data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/general-news-f105dbe7f98c472e8fe7d2da6249fd60">former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and other political figures convicted of similar financial crimes.

Santos was elected in 2022, flipping a wealthy district representing parts of Queens and Long Island for the GOP.

Soon after, it was revealed that the political unknown had fabricated much of his life story, painting himself as a successful business owner who worked at prestigious Wall Street firms and held a valuable real estate portfolio.

   
       
   

In reality, Santos was struggling financially and even faced eviction. The revelations led to congressional and criminal inquiries into         data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-district-of-columbia-congress-george-santos-campaign-finance-f58dc7242796327d81738559885e9078">how he had funded his campaign.

As his sentencing approached, Santos was reflective in social media posts, thanking his supporters and detractors alike.

“I learned that no matter left, right or, center we are all humans and for the most part Americans (LOL) and we have one super power that I cherish and that is compassion,” he         data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://x.com/MrSantosNY/status/1915406513755107733" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote Thursday on the social platform X. “To the trolls… well you guys are an impactful part of how people shape themselves, and y’all made me much stronger and made my skin thicker!”

He also made one final plug for his Cameo account, where he records personalized video messages for $100.

“Think ahead and of any celebration or event coming up later this year. Book them today,” Santos wrote, ending the post with a series of heart emojis.

___

Associated Press reporter Jake Offenhartz in New York contributed to this story.

___

Follow Philip Marcelo at         data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://twitter.com/philmarcelo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">twitter.com/philmarcelo.

                                   
                               
                           

                           
                   
                   
                   

                   
                   
   
       
           
               
   
       
           
               
                   
   
       

   

   
       

   
    >


               
           
       
   

   
       
           
                PHILIP MARCELO
           
       

       
           
                Marcelo is a general assignment reporter in the NYC bureau. He previously wrote for AP Fact Check and before that was based in Boston, where he focused on race and immigration.
           
       
       
       
           
               
                   
                       
   
   
       
           
       
   
   
        twitter
   


                   
                       
   
   
       
           
       
   
   
        mailto
   

Source: Ex-US Rep. George Santos faces sentencing for fraud after duping donors and voters