Additional Coverage:
- George Santos wails in court as judge shows no mercy and slaps him with massive sentence (irishstar.com)
Disgraced Congressman George Santos Sentenced to Over Seven Years
Former U.S. Representative George Santos wept in court as he received a sentence of 87 months – just over seven years – in prison for fraud and identity theft. The sentence, handed down in a Long Island federal court on Friday, aligns with the prosecution’s recommendation.
Santos’s brief, scandal-ridden congressional career ended after just one year when his House colleagues ousted him in 2023. He pleaded guilty last summer to federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, admitting to stealing the identities of nearly a dozen people, including family members, and defrauding donors to finance his successful campaign. He has agreed to pay approximately $580,000 in penalties as part of his plea deal.
Prosecutors argued for the seven-year sentence, asserting that Santos remained unrepentant and lacked genuine remorse despite claims to the contrary. They pointed to recent social media posts where Santos portrayed himself as a victim of prosecutorial overreach. Santos’s defense team, arguing he had shown remorse, requested the minimum sentence of two years.
In a letter to the court this week, Santos expressed “profound sorrow” for his crimes but objected to the prosecution’s “overly harsh” sentencing recommendation.
Santos’s 2022 election victory flipped a wealthy Queens and Long Island district for the GOP. However, his fabricated life story quickly unraveled.
He had presented himself as a successful businessman with a prestigious Wall Street career and a substantial real estate portfolio. The reality was starkly different: Santos faced financial struggles and even eviction.
The revelations triggered congressional and criminal investigations into his campaign financing.
Even as his sentencing loomed, Santos remained active on social media, thanking both supporters and critics. He even launched a Cameo account, offering personalized video messages for $100 each.