George Santos pleads guilty to two counts in federal corruption case, faces years in prison

Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., who was expelled from the House of Representatives after being indicted on 23 federal counts including fraud and misusing campaign funds, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to two of the charges.

The Long Island Republican faces a mandatory two-year minimum sentence after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. But Judge Joanna Seybert estimated the term could range from six to eight years behind bars when he is sentenced on Feb. 7, 2025. Santos also agreed to pay nearly $374,000 in restitution and to forfeit $205,000.

Santos had faced trial in September on charges including laundering campaign funds to pay for his personal expenses, charging donors' credit cards without their consent, and receiving unemployment benefits while he was employed.

"I deeply regret my conduct and the harm it has caused and accept full responsibility for my actions," Santos said in a shaky voice in court.

Prosecutors said Santos told the truth about his criminal schemes for what seemed like the first time since campaigning for Congress.

“He admitted to lying, stealing and conning people,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement. “His flagrant and disgraceful conduct has been exposed and will be punished."

Christie Curtis, acting assistant director of the FBI's New York field office, said when public officials place their self interest above those they serve, they undermine confidence in the government.

“Today, George Santos admitted that he did in fact lie, cheat, and steal his way to elected office," Curtis said. 

The House voted 311-114 in December to expel Santos after a House Ethics Committee report found substantial evidence he misused campaign funds on Botox and luxury apparel brands such as Hermes, and that he committed federal crimes. Lawmakers who voted against the expulsion voiced concerns about ousting Santos before he had been convicted.

"Moving forward, I am dedicated to making amends for the wrongs I have committed," Santos told reporters outside the courthouse. "This plea is not just an admission of guilt, it is an acknowledgment that I need to be held accountable, like any other American that breaks the law."

Santos had been controversial since he joined Congress as a Republican freshman in January 2023 after flipping a seat in the New York City suburbs. He was found to have fabricated parts of his resume and biography, including claims he worked at Goldman Sachs investment bank and that his grandmother was a victim of the Holocaust.

The criminal charges included wire fraud, making false statements to the Federal Election Commission, falsifying records, aggravated identity theft, money laundering and making false statements to the House.

“As alleged, Santos is charged with stealing people’s identities and making charges on his own donors’ credit cards without their authorization, lying to the FEC and, by extension, the public about the financial state of his campaign,” Peace said when he was indicted. “Santos falsely inflated the campaign’s reported receipts with nonexistent loans and contributions that were either fabricated or stolen.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former Rep. George Santos pleads guilty to wire fraud, identity theft