“Prosecutors are pushing for a 7-year sentence for a former U.S. Representative”
Prosecutors are recommending a sentence of over seven years in prison for former U.S. Representative George Santos, who recently pleaded guilty to federal fraud and identity theft charges. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York argued in a court filing on Friday that Santos deserved a significant sentence because his actions had severely undermined the integrity of the country’s election system.
The prosecutors highlighted Santos’s elaborate deceptions, including creating a false biography and stealing money from vulnerable donors, as evidence of his greed and disregard for the law. They also noted that Santos had shown no remorse for his crimes, and suggested that he could be at risk of committing further offenses in the future.
Santos’s defense team, however, criticized the proposed seven-year sentence as unjust and claimed that he had already taken responsibility for his actions. They argued for a shorter two-year prison term, pointing out that Santos had no prior criminal record and provided crucial support to his family.
The defense team also highlighted Santos’s cooperation in a separate federal investigation as a reason for a more lenient sentence. They emphasized that Santos had already suffered significant consequences, including the loss of his congressional seat and public humiliation.
A federal judge on Long Island is set to determine Santos’s sentence at a court hearing scheduled for April 25. Santos, who represented parts of Queens and Long Island, was expelled from Congress in 2023 after it was revealed that he had fabricated much of his background and engaged in fraudulent activities during his brief time in office.
Santos has been ordered to pay restitution of nearly $375,000 and forfeiture of $205,000. His lawyers stated that he had only about $1,000 in liquid assets and needed more time to generate income from his podcast “Pants on Fire” to begin repaying his debts. Prosecutors argue that Santos has made over $800,000 from Cameo appearances and a documentary since his expulsion from Congress, benefiting greatly from his notoriety. Two of Santos’ campaign staff members have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to campaign financing fraud. Former campaign fundraiser Sam Miele received a one-year sentence for impersonating a congressional aide and making unauthorized charges to donors’ credit cards. Former campaign treasurer Nancy Marks admitted to submitting false campaign finance reports with fictitious donors and a fake $500,000 loan from Santos. These fabrications were used to meet fundraising requirements for financial support from the national Republican Party. Marks is scheduled to be sentenced in May. For updates, follow Philip Marcelo on Twitter at twitter.com/philmarcelo.
