Disgraced former Republican congressman George Santos has pleaded guilty to federal charges of fraud, potentially facing up to eight years in prison. Santos, 36, appeared in court in Central Islip, New York, on Monday, admitting to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The judge estimated a sentencing range between six and eight years for his crimes.
Santos, who was expelled from Congress last year after a scandal-ridden tenure, expressed remorse for his actions in a statement read to the court. This marks a significant reversal from his previous denial of charges, including lying to Congress about his finances and misusing campaign funds for personal expenses.
As part of the plea agreement, Santos is required to make restitution of at least $374,000 (£288,000). The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence that must be served consecutively, in addition to the sentence for wire fraud.
During the court proceedings, Santos admitted to stealing the identities of campaign staff and applying for unemployment benefits he was not entitled to receive. He also acknowledged making false statements and omissions on financial statements submitted to the House Ethics Committee.
Santos, who defeated a Democratic incumbent in 2022, faced a series of controversies during his brief tenure in office. Allegations included false claims about his career on Wall Street, his university education, his Jewish ancestry, and his mother’s death in the 9/11 attacks.
The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into Santos in 2023, focusing on allegations of “unlawful activity” during his 2022 campaign, lying to Congress, and engaging in sexual misconduct. Federal prosecutors subsequently filed 23 charges against him, including wire fraud, money laundering, and the misuse of campaign funds.
In December, Santos became the first member of Congress to be expelled in over two decades and only the sixth in history. The House ethics panel report accused him of misusing campaign funds for personal benefit, including expenses related to Botox, credit card debts, and subscriptions on the adult content platform OnlyFans.
