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

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. – Disgraced erstwhile U.S. Rep. George Santos, who lied astir his beingness communicative and defrauded donors, faces sentencing successful national tribunal connected Friday.

The New York Republican, who served successful Congress for hardly a twelvemonth earlier being ousted successful 2023 by his House colleagues, pleaded guilty past summertime to national ligament fraud and aggravated individuality theft.

He admitted to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of astir a twelve people, including his household members, to money his winning campaign. As portion of a plea deal, Santos has agreed to wage astir $580,000 successful penalties successful summation to situation time.

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

“I’m doing arsenic good arsenic immoderate quality being would beryllium doing fixed the circumstances,” Santos wrote successful a substance connection connected Thursday. “I volition beryllium successful tribunal tomorrow, acceptable to look the music.”

Prosecutors are seeking 7 years successful national situation for Santos, arguing successful caller tribunal filings that helium “remains unrepentant” and has not shown genuine remorse, contempt what helium claims.

They mention caller comments Santos has made connected societal media successful which helium casts himself arsenic a unfortunate of prosecutorial overreach.

In a missive to the tribunal this week, Santos stressed that helium remains “profoundly sorry” for his crimes but objects to the condemnation being sought, which helium said is overly harsh.

Santos’ lawyers person called for a two-year situation stint, which is the mandatory minimum condemnation for aggravated individuality theft.

They reason specified a punishment is comparable to sentences handed to former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and different governmental figures convicted of akin fiscal crimes.

Santos was elected successful 2022, flipping a affluent territory representing parts of Queens and Long Island for the GOP.

Soon after, it was revealed that the governmental chartless had fabricated overmuch of his beingness story, coating himself arsenic a palmy concern proprietor who worked astatine prestigious Wall Street firms and held a invaluable existent property portfolio.

In reality, Santos was struggling financially and adjacent faced eviction. The revelations led to legislature and transgression inquiries into how helium had funded his campaign.

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

“I learned that nary substance left, close or, halfway we are each humans and for the astir portion Americans (LOL) and we person 1 ace powerfulness that I cherish and that is compassion,” helium wrote Thursday connected the societal level X. “To the trolls… good you guys are an impactful portion of however radical signifier themselves, and y’all made maine overmuch stronger and made my tegument thicker!”

He besides made 1 last plug for his Cameo account, wherever helium records personalized video messages for $100.

“Think up and of immoderate solemnisation oregon lawsuit coming up aboriginal this year. Book them today,” Santos wrote, ending the station with a bid of bosom emojis.

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Associated Press newsman Jake Offenhartz successful New York contributed to this story.

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Follow Philip Marcelo astatine twitter.com/philmarcelo.

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