Former New York congressman George Santos in 2024.
New York Daily News | Tribune News Service | Getty Images
Former Rep. George Santos, whose web of lies about his life led to the New York Republican’s expulsion from Congress, is set to be sentenced Friday morning in his federal fraud case.
Santos admitted last August to engaging in a multi-pronged campaign finance scheme, stealing unemployment benefits during the Covid-19 pandemic, and lying on House financial disclosure forms.
As part of an agreement with prosecutors in U.S. District Court in Long Island, Santos pleaded guilty to a single count each of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He also agreed to restitution and forfeiture totaling nearly $580,000.
Santos has asked Judge Joanna Seybert to sentence him to only the mandatory minimum of two years in prison. He argues that he accepted responsibility for his actions and cooperated with prosecutors.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York asked Seybert to sentence Santos to 87 months behind bars.
In a court filing last week, prosecutors told the judge that Santos’ recent series of defiant social media posts shows that “he remains unrepentant for his crimes.”
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
