On April 25, former Republican U.S. Congressman George Santos was sentenced to 87 months in prison for wire fraud and multiple identity theft.
According to a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Santos must be taken into federal custody by July 25 at the latest. He also has to pay more than $370,000 in restitution to the victims and forfeit about $200,000 in property.
The sentence handed down on the day was consistent with the one recommended by the prosecutor. Santos' defense attorney had previously requested a minimum sentence of two years. Santos said in court that he had betrayed the public's trust.
After the sentence was announced, a district attorney issued a statement saying, "Santos deceived his donors and voters during his brief public service career until he was exposed as an opportunist and a fraud. Today's lengthy sentence is a just end for a liar who thought he was above the law."
Santos, 36, was first elected as a federal congressman from New York State in the U.S. mid - term elections in November 2022. Shortly after his election, Santos was successively exposed for resume fraud, suspected violations of campaign finance laws, and fraud. In May 2023, Santos was federally indicted on criminal charges. In December 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to expel Santos, making him the first member to be ousted from the House in more than 20 years. Santos pleaded guilty in the case in August 2024.
