(Scypre.com) – Former Congressman George Santos, who was expelled from Congress while facing nearly two dozen criminal charges, reached a plea deal on Monday with federal prosecutors in New York. Santos pleaded guilty to two federal charges: wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace addressed the public following the plea, stating, “A short time ago, after years of telling lies, former Congressman George Santos stood in the courthouse behind me and finally, under oath, told the truth. And that truth is that he is a criminal.” Peace emphasized the gravity of Santos’ actions, saying, “Santos pled guilty to serious crimes involving fraud and identity theft. He also admitted to committing all other crimes he was charged with in the superseding indictment. As a result, he will finally be held to account for his actions.”
According to Peace, Santos will face a minimum of two years in prison under the deal, though the judge mentioned that the sentencing range could be between six to eight years. Santos is scheduled for sentencing on February 7 at the federal court in Central Islip. As part of the agreement, Santos must repay at least $373,000.
In his statement, Peace did not hold back, asserting, “He admitted that he lied, he stole, and that he conned people. So today, for what may seem like the first time since he started his campaign for Congress, Mr. Santos told the truth about his criminal schemes.” Peace continued to denounce Santos, declaring, “Santos’ countless lies and audacious misrepresentations catapulted him to Congress. But for the victims of Santos’ various financial crimes and the community whose falsehoods and fabrications deprived them of honest representation in Congress, he is worthy only of infamy.”
In the courtroom, Santos spoke swiftly, admitting to a series of crimes, including fraudulently using someone else’s credit cards for his personal gain and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission. The judge had to ask Santos to slow down during his confession. Additionally, Santos admitted to committing wire fraud between September and October of 2022. Peace added that Santos also acknowledged a “litany” of other crimes, for which he will be held accountable during sentencing.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly praised the cooperation between federal partners in prosecuting Santos, stating, “Working together to prosecute a liar, a cheat, and a thief, for that’s what George Santos is, and that’s what his plea of guilty here today proves.”
Outside the court, Santos reflected on his actions, stating, “It’s clear to me now I allowed ambition to cloud my judgment, leading me to make decisions that were unethical and pleading guilty is a step I never imagined I’d take, but it is a necessary one because it is the right thing to do.” He also admitted to providing a list of false donors, using the names of family and friends without their permission to cover up his crimes. Santos acknowledged in court, “My actions have betrayed the trust of my supporters and constituents.”
Santos had previously dismissed the investigation as a “witch hunt” while maintaining his innocence.
Santos’ short 11-month tenure in Congress was marred by scandal, following his 2022 midterm election victory where he embellished his biography to secure his seat. His façade unraveled when the Justice Department indicted him in May 2023 and again in October. Among the 23 felony charges, Santos was accused of defrauding campaign donors and using the funds for personal expenses like designer clothing, stealing donor identities, making unauthorized charges on their credit cards, claiming unemployment benefits while employed, lying to Congress about his finances, and falsifying campaign finance reports.
A report by the House Ethics Committee found “substantial evidence” that Santos repeatedly broke the law, prompting his colleagues to attempt to expel him twice before a damning Ethics Committee report solidified their decision.
Despite his fall from grace, Santos attempted a comeback. After maintaining his innocence, he stayed in the public eye by attacking former colleagues on social media, charging for personalized messages on Cameo, and attending President Biden’s State of the Union address. He even announced a congressional comeback bid as an independent after leaving the Republican Party, only to quickly end his campaign.
In December, Santos acknowledged in an interview that he had a “long road of redemption” ahead of him. When asked about the possibility of jail, Santos replied, “I think everybody should be afraid of going to jail. It’s not a pretty place. I definitely want to work very hard to avoid that as best as possible.”
Though he once insisted that a plea deal was “not off the table,” Santos ultimately agreed to one. Prosecutors indicated in a December 11 court filing that they were negotiating with Santos “with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial.” Jury selection for his trial on 23 felony charges, including wire fraud, theft of public funds, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission, was supposed to begin on September 9. Had the case gone to trial, prosecutors were prepared with over 500 exhibits, including text messages, emails, financial records, flight records, and dozens of witnesses.