George Santos Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud And Identity Theft, Avoiding Trial—Here’s What To Know

 

The ousted lawmaker is accused of defrauding donors and lying about his finances, among other claims.

Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud and identity theft, according to multiple reports, allowing the ousted lawmaker to avoid a federal trial over allegations that have followed him for nearly two years and led to him being only the sixth person in history to be expelled from the House.

Key Facts

Santos, 36, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, and agreed to pay restitution of at least $373,749.97, according to CBS News.

The ousted lawmaker pleaded not guilty to 13 federal charges—including wire fraud, money laundering and falsifying financial statements—last May, and Santos was indicted on 10 additional charges in October for allegedly stealing donor identities and financial information.

In his plea, Santos admitted to making false statements to the Federal Elections Commission, committing wire fraud and to fraudulently using IDs and credits cards of at least one person for his personal benefit.

He also admitted to applying for unemployment benefits he was not entitled to and for making false statements and omissions on financial statements to the House Ethics committee.

What To Watch For

Judge Joanna Seybert scheduled Santos’ sentencing for Feb. 7, 2025. Santos faces a two-year mandatory minimum prison sentence for both counts, though Seybert reportedly said Santos could be sentenced to up to eight years in prison.

Big Number

22 years. That’s the maximum sentence that could have been given to Santos if convicted on all charges and awarded the longest possible prison term, which is unusual. Defendants who plead guilty often get shorter sentences—or can avoid jail time entirely.

Key Background

Santos’ short tenure in office was surrounded by controversy. The former House member was accused of lying about his background weeks after winning a midterm election for New York’s 3rd congressional district in 2022, sparking calls for his resignation. Prosecutors charged Santos in May 2023, alleging he orchestrated a monthslong scheme to defraud contributors to his House campaign, directing donations to a Florida-based LLC under false pretenses the money would go to his campaign, when the funds were instead used for his own personal expenses. He was also accused of falsifying financial statements to the House and applying for unemployment benefits in New York, despite earning about $120,000 annually. In October, prosecutors alleged Santos took part in a “party program scheme” with his former campaign treasurer, after submitting false reports containing inflated campaign fundraising numbers. Santos also charged donors’ credit cards repeatedly without authorization, prosecutors claim. Santos reportedly indicated at the time he was “going to continue to fight this” and “will not take a plea deal,” though he later said a plea deal with prosecutors was “not off the table” as he would “definitely want to work very hard” to avoid jail time.

Surprising Fact

Santos became the sixth person to be expelled from the House after a 311-114 vote in December. The vote followed a report by the House Ethics Committee, which alleged Santos “sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.” Santos announced after his expulsion he would not run for reelection.