A former American tail. George Santos was sentenced to 87 months, or more than seven years, in prison at the federal deception and identity saving on Friday in New York.
Federal prosecutors say the former Congressman overreacted or the big parts of his backstary Refraud voters and donors in New York 3. Congress District. He faced with nearly a dozen criminal charges before Molly blame on two points last August.
“He admitted that he was engaged in the crime that took place in the period. Personal identities and financial information from the campaign contribution, that they met publicly deviating from their campaign,” American lawyer New York John Durham, said the Exterior Court. “He refused the perspective of the political supporter convincing them to contribute contributions based on false statements, and then they took the money for themselves.”
The CBS news reached Santos on the phone while driving on Friday morning on Long Island, and he said resigned on the fact that the judge could impose a strong sentence. He said there was no expectation of a judge’s decision or when he would have to report to prison.
He entered the courtroom in the central Islip through the crush of journalists and photographers. They saw him hug supporters and looks very dark, with blood eyes, as he entered inside.
Santos read the statement to the judge, saying through tears, he was humiliated and that he broke the news of many people. He offered his deepest apology and admitted that he issued his supporters and institutions sworn to serve. He continued to say that he could not rewrite the past, but requested a balanced punishment, adding that he could contribute to the community he had made a mistake.
The judge took the maximum sentence immediately before noon.
Santos was seen to leave the courtroom to his lawyers. It is unclear when they will sign in to prison.
Outside, the bunch of his former voters gathered with signs reading “the truth” and “we refused to trickle again.”
Santos asks the dining room in front of the penalty
The American Minister of Justice wanted Santos to serve 87 months in prison, while his lawyers were looking for only 24 months.
In Recent applicationDoj said that he remains “non-existent for his crimes,” pointed to different posts on social media, it was said that “difficult expression” of the original remorse “were said.
Santos wrote to the judge earlier this week By looking for lenility and saying to accept responsibility.
“This case cost me his congress headquarters, my reputation, life, and, the most pain from all, trust people who believed in me. Each exit he exited the same realization: I was responsible,” I wrote Santos. “But I say I’m sorry, I don’t need to sit calmly until those prosecutors try to lower the navidate my head.”
He used to say to his followers to plan to ask for solitary confinement in prison.
Santos was part of the “red wave” for the Republic Party
Santos helped the Republican Secure House of Representatives in the middle elections in 2022. Yearspresentation New York’s 3. Congress District which covers the parts of the queen and Nassau County.
Before Even sworn in the officehis lies have begun to dissolve.
Federal Invisigators Run First accusations against Santos in May 2023. yearsfollowed by Additional charges that are in October. Published Committee for Ethics of the House Skelete of the reports on the next monthdetail the scope of his misconduct.
Santos was with congress weeks laterit becomes only A member of the sixth house that will be expelled In US history.
In a Document on punishment in submitted at the beginning of this monthProsecutors said that “concluded our electoral system,” by adding that it did not only submit its resume, used a “fully fabricated biography for enrichment and grabbing one of the highest offices.”
What did George Santos do?
Prosecutors said that he presented the false financial publication of the Congress that claim that he was a multi-millionaire and sought a supplier to force a Baruch College degree.
In the sentence, the sentence wrote that they were “intentionally and bald faced” professional frauds “-” fictitious public image of a highly educated, independent rich businessman “.
Memo are reference false donations in relatives names, a credit card scam scheme that stole from older and cognitive damaged donors Buy Designed GoodsAnd the other that created a fake non-profit number for seeking donations.
He also said that Santos claimed that he banned his $ 500,000 campaign when he had less than $ 10,000 in his name, and he collected unemployment benefits as she worked later as a Ponzi scheme.
As part of his guilt, he agreed to pay More than $ 500,000 in restitution and confiscation.
Read the entire sentence on punishment
Carolyn Gusoff and Michael Kaplan contributed to this report.
2025-04-25 16:56:00
