Disgraced Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. George Santos was sentenced to over seven years in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The 36-year-old Republican sobbed as he heard his punishment, breaking down in tears as he appealed for mercy.
Santos, who served in Congress for barely a year before being ousted by his House colleagues in 2023, admitted to deceiving donors and stealing identities to fund his winning campaign. U.S. District Court Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced him to 87 months behind bars, questioning the sincerity of his remorse.
“Where is your remorse? Where do I see it?” Judge Seybert asked, suggesting that Santos appeared to feel that “it’s always someone else’s fault.”
As part of his plea deal, Santos agreed to pay approximately $580,000 in penalties. Prosecutors had sought the 87-month sentence, citing Santos’ recent social media posts that cast himself as a victim of prosecutorial overreach. They argued that some of his victims were “extremely vulnerable,” including a woman with brain damage and two elderly men with dementia.
Santos’ defense team had requested a two-year prison sentence, the mandatory minimum for aggravated identity theft. His lawyer portrayed him as a complex figure shaped by adversity, having grown up in a “broken house” and faced bullying throughout his life.
The case highlighted how Santos had fabricated much of his life story during his 2022 campaign, claiming to be a successful business owner with Wall Street experience. In reality, he was struggling financially and even faced eviction. The revelations led to both congressional and criminal investigations into his campaign funding.
As his sentencing approached, Santos reflected on his experience in social media posts, thanking both supporters and detractors. He also made a final promotion for his Cameo account, where he records personalized video messages for $100.
Santos’ sentencing marks the end of a dramatic political career that began with his unexpected election victory in 2022, flipping a wealthy district representing parts of Queens and Long Island for the GOP.
