In New York, prosecutors are advocating for over seven years of imprisonment for former U.S. Representative George Santos following his guilty plea to federal fraud and identity theft charges. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York submitted a court filing on Friday, arguing that such a sentence is justified due to Santos’ severe misconduct, which has, according to them, ridiculed the nation’s electoral system.
The prosecutors criticized Santos for creating a completely false biography and unscrupulously stealing money from elderly and vulnerable donors. They noted that his relentless desire for wealth and notoriety allowed him to take advantage of the system through which representatives are elected. Furthermore, they alleged that Santos remained defiant and unrepentant for years, dismissing the charges as a “witch hunt” even as his falsehoods were unveiled and refusing to leave office.
Prosecutors expressed skepticism about Santos’ expressions of remorse, suggesting that his apologies are insincere and that he is likely to re-offend. They argue that Santos has not abandoned any financial gains from his crimes nor compensated his victims, emphasizing that tougher sentencing is necessary.
In contrast, Santos’ attorneys criticized the proposed seven-year sentence as “absurd and unfounded,” asserting that it aims to harshly punish someone who has already accepted full responsibility for his actions. Their sentencing suggestion involves a two-year prison term, which aligns with the mandatory minimum for aggravated identity theft. They highlighted Santos’ lack of previous criminal activity and emphasized his importance in supporting his sister and her daughter.
Santos’ legal team compared his situation to other political figures who have received similar sentences for financial misconduct, mentioning his cooperation with a separate federal investigation targeting a Texas man attempting to exploit Santos financially under false pretenses.
Santos’ attorneys believe that a lighter sentence, paired with the considerable consequences he has endured—such as losing his congressional seat and suffering public disgrace—would sufficiently communicate that such behaviors are unacceptable.
A federal judge is due to determine Santos’ sentence during a court session on April 25. During his brief tenure in Congress, representing areas of Queens and Long Island, Santos was expelled in 2023, making him only the sixth member expelled in House history. His expulsion follows revelations of significant lies about his life and questions regarding his campaign funding sources.
Santos previously portrayed himself as a prosperous businessman with degrees from prestigious institutions, employment at leading Wall Street firms, and ownership of a valuable real estate portfolio. However, the reality revealed that he was in financial distress and facing eviction.
In August, Santos confessed to deceiving voters and donors, and to stealing multiple identities, including some from his family, to fund his congressional campaign. His sentencing was initially scheduled for February but was postponed by three months to allow him to gather over half a million dollars for court fines.
His plea deal includes paying nearly $375,000 in restitution and $205,000 in forfeiture. At that time, his attorneys noted that he had minimal liquid assets and required additional time to develop his podcast “Pants on Fire” to start repaying the debt.
Authorities claim Santos has profited significantly from his notoriety, alleging earnings of over $800,000 from appearances on the platform Cameo and from a documentary since his departure from Congress. Additionally, two former campaign staff members have admitted to federal charges related to the campaign finance scheme. Sam Miele, a former campaign fundraiser, received a sentence of one year and one day in federal prison for impersonating a senior congressional aide and misappropriating donor credit card information. Nancy Marks, Santos’ former campaign treasurer, confessed to submitting false campaign finance reports with fabricated donor information and an invented $500,000 personal loan from Santos, making the campaign eligible for Republican Party financial support. Marks is scheduled to be sentenced in May.