George Santos: Celebrity Convict #7.
Crimes: Brazil: Felony check fraud /United States: Wire Fraud and aggravated Identity theft
Who is George Santos?
George Anthony Devolder Santos, born July 22, 1988, is an American politician and former U.S. representative for New York's 3rd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he served in office from January to December 2023. Santos' time in Congress was marred by multiple false claims regarding his personal life, health, education, religion, taxes, and career, leading to a public outcry.
These falsehoods prompted an investigation by the Brazilian government for fraud. In 2008, Santos confessed to check fraud charges in Brazil but failed to appear in court, leaving the case unresolved. Santos had previously run for Congress in 2020 but was unsuccessful. In 2022, he won a seat in Congress, but his tenure was short-lived. Santos is openly gay and was removed from the House of Representatives on December 1, 2023, following mounting scrutiny over his actions and deceitful statements.
Federal Charges
In May 2023, U.S. Representative George Santos was indicted on 13 criminal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, theft of public funds, and making false statements to the House of Representatives. These charges arose from three primary schemes in which Santos allegedly engaged, all related to his campaign and personal finances.
Fraudulent Solicitation of Political Contributions: The most significant charge in the indictment is related to Santos’s fraudulent solicitation of political contributions. He allegedly convinced two donors to contribute $25,000 each to a limited liability company (LLC) that he controlled. Santos reportedly misled the donors, claiming that the funds would be used for political advertisements through a Super PAC supporting his campaign. Instead of using the money for its intended purpose, Santos allegedly diverted it for personal expenses.
Unemployment Benefits Fraud: Another charge involved Santos fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. While earning a salary of $120,000 annually, Santos is accused of applying for and receiving $24,000 in unemployment benefits from mid-2020 to April 2021, despite being ineligible for such assistance. This alleged abuse of the unemployment system has raised questions about Santos’s conduct during a time when many were struggling financially.
False Financial Disclosure Statements: Santos also faces accusations of making false statements on his financial disclosure forms filed with the House of Representatives. These reports are intended to provide transparency regarding the personal wealth and financial interests of public officials. Santos allegedly included inaccurate information about his assets, investments, and business dealings, including falsely claiming ownership of a real estate portfolio that did not exist.
The Superseding Indictment
In October 2023, a superseding indictment was filed, which added 10 additional felonies against Santos. These new charges include conspiracy against the United States, aggravated identity theft, credit card fraud, and money laundering. The charges stemmed from Santos’s involvement with a firm named RedStone, which allegedly misrepresented its political status. Prosecutors claim that Santos used donor funds, including credit card information, for personal luxuries, including clothing. During this period, he allegedly misled the Republican National Committee (RNC) about the purpose of the funds.
Santos denied these charges, claiming that any mistakes in his campaign finance reports were due to mismanagement by others. However, the charges continued to mount, and in August 2024, Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. In court, he admitted to his wrongdoing, stating, "I accept full responsibility for my actions... I allowed my ambition to cloud my judgment."
Sentencing and Restitution
Santos is scheduled for sentencing on April 25, 2025. Under federal sentencing guidelines, he faces a potential prison sentence of 6 to 8 years for his crimes. However, the charges could carry a maximum sentence of up to 22 years. Additionally, Santos will be required to pay nearly $375,000 in restitution to victims and forfeit another $205,000, with the possibility of property seizure if he is unable to pay.
While Santos initially denied any intention of pleading guilty, the plea agreement ensures that his sentence will reflect his admissions. His agreement not to appeal a sentence less than eight years shows the seriousness of the consequences he now faces. The case serves as a cautionary tale about the abuse of power and trust in public office, with significant legal and political ramifications for Santos’s future.
Prison Time
As of now, it remains uncertain whether George Santos will go to prison. He faces a range of federal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft, related to his campaign finances and personal actions.
The aggravated identity theft charge carries a two-year mandatory prison term that must be served consecutively with any sentence for the wire fraud charge.
In 2024, Santos pleaded guilty to several charges, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Federal sentencing guidelines suggest he could face 6 to 8 years in prison, with a maximum possible sentence of 22 years. However, his sentencing is scheduled for April 2025, with the final outcome dependent on the judge’s decision, taking into account his plea deal and other factors like restitution payments.
If Santos doesn't comply with the restitution or if new evidence emerges, there could be further legal ramifications, potentially impacting the final sentence. So, while prison is a real possibility, the exact timing and length of his sentence will depend on ongoing legal proceedings.
Why did Santos embellish his life?
Santos admitted to embellishing his background after a series of investigations by The New York Times questioned his claims. Santos falsely stated he graduated from university, worked for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and was a college volleyball star. He also falsely claimed his grandparents fled antisemitism in Europe and that he was Jewish.
Santos confessed to misrepresenting his faith, revealing he is Catholic, not Jewish, as he had previously claimed. In an interview with Piers Morgan, Santos explained that he fabricated his story to gain acceptance from voters in New York’s third district. “I’ve been a terrible liar,” he admitted, explaining he made mistakes to secure his election. By January 2023, nearly 80% of his constituents wanted him to resign, according to a survey by Newsday and Siena College.
Post-congressional career
Following his expulsion from Congress in December 2023, George Santos quickly capitalised on his notoriety by joining Cameo, where he offered personalised video messages. Steven Galanis, co-founder of Cameo, praised Santos's debut, calling it one of "the best launches" the platform had seen. The videos had the potential to earn Santos more than his $174,000 Congressional salary.
Santos's Cameo activities attracted further attention when Senator John Fetterman purchased a video as a prank aimed at Senator Bob Menendez. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel also purchased videos, airing some on his show and prompting Santos to demand $20,000 for the right to broadcast, a request Kimmel refused. Santos filed a lawsuit against Kimmel and others for $750,000, but the suit was dismissed in August 2024, with the court ruling that Kimmel's actions were protected under the fair use doctrine.
Santos also revived his Kitara drag persona on Cameo, promising to donate 20% of the earnings to charity, though the Tunnel to Towers Foundation stated they were unaware of his plans. Later, he launched an OnlyFans account, stating it would offer a "behind-the-scenes" look at his life. Additionally, Santos began a podcast, "Pants on Fire," with liberal cohost Naja Hall, though a staged incident of coffee being thrown at him ahead of the show's premiere raised eyebrows.
Personal Life
George Santos, an openly gay politician, was married to a woman from 2012 to 2019, despite being out and living with men during the marriage. He only acknowledged the marriage publicly in December 2022. Santos stated that he had been openly gay for at least a decade before his marriage, a claim supported by friends and former colleagues. Some speculated that the marriage was for immigration purposes or to access claimed wealth. Santos denied allegations that he was paid $20,000 for the marriage. In 2020, Santos confirmed he was living with his partner, Matheus Gerard, whom he later called his husband, claiming they wed in November 2021. Santos revealed the story behind his meeting with his husband, Matheus "Matt" Gerard and in 2024 admitted that he and Gerard first connected on the gay dating app Grindr. Santos explained that a "glitch" on the app made it appear as though Gerard was much closer to him than he actually was.
