Disgraced Former Rep. George Santos Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison
NEW YORK — Former U.S. Rep. George Santos, who lied about his life story and defrauded donors, was sentenced Friday to 87 months in prison. During the sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Joanna Seybert expressed concern about Santos’ lack of remorse, noting that he appeared to feel that “it’s always someone else’s fault.”
Santos, a 36-year-old New York Republican who served in Congress for barely a year before being ousted in 2023, had pleaded guilty the previous summer to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He admitted to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of nearly a dozen people, including family members, to fund his successful campaign.
As part of his plea deal, Santos agreed to pay approximately $580,000 in penalties in addition to his prison sentence. Before entering the Long Island courthouse, Santos declined to comment to reporters. However, in a text message to The Associated Press on Thursday, he expressed resignation about his fate, stating, “I’m doing as well as any human being would be doing given the circumstances.”
Prosecutors had sought a seven-year prison term, citing Santos’ lack of genuine remorse despite his claims of being sorry. They pointed to recent social media comments where Santos portrayed himself as a victim of prosecutorial overreach. In response, Santos’ lawyers argued for the mandatory minimum two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft, comparing it to sentences given to other political figures convicted of similar financial crimes.
In the lead-up to his sentencing, 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.
The sentencing marks the conclusion of a case that drew significant attention due to Santos’ fabricated life story and the revelations that followed his election in 2022. Santos had presented himself as a successful business owner with ties to prestigious Wall Street firms and a valuable real estate portfolio, but it was later discovered that he was struggling financially and even faced eviction.
