Former U.S. Representative George Anthony Devolder Santos pleaded guilty today to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
In pleading guilty, Santos, 36, of Queens, New York, admitted he filed fraudulent FEC reports, embezzled funds from campaign donors, charged credit cards without authorization, stole identities, obtained unemployment benefits through fraud, and lied in reports to the House of Representatives.
“As part of his campaign for election to the U.S. House of Representatives, George Santos committed fraud and identity theft and lied to the American people about his personal finances and campaign supporters,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri. “In doing so, Santos violated laws designed to ensure that the public has accurate information about the personal finances of individuals who seek to represent them in Congress and how their political campaigns are funded.”
“Today, for what may seem like the first time since he started his campaign for Congress, Mr. Santos told the truth about his criminal schemes. He admitted to lying, stealing and conning people,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “By pleading guilty, Mr. Santos has acknowledged that he repeatedly defrauded federal and state government institutions as well as his own family, supporters and constituents.”
“Today, George Santos admitted that he did in fact lie, cheat, and steal his way to elected office,” said Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie M. Curtis of the FBI's New York Field Office.
“George Santos lied to his constituents, cheated his supporters and quite simply made a mockery of his position in public office,” said Agent in Charge Thomas M. Fattorusso of IRS-Criminal Investigations New York.
During the 2022 election cycle, Santos was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s Third Congressional District. Nancy Marks pleaded guilty in October 2023 to related conduct as treasurer for his campaign committee.
Santos and Marks devised a scheme to obtain money by submitting false reports to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), inflating fundraising numbers to mislead various entities including a national party committee.
To qualify for financial support from this committee program requiring at least $250,000 raised from third-party contributors in one quarter, they falsely reported significant contributions from family members who neither made nor authorized such donations.
Between July 2020 and October 2022, Santos executed another scheme involving unauthorized charges on contributors’ credit cards funneling funds into various campaigns including his own while falsely attributing these transactions to others.
Beginning September 2022 during his congressional campaign run through a limited liability company (Company #1), Santos misled prospective donors into believing their contributions would support election efforts but instead used these funds for personal expenses.
Additionally from February 2020 until April 2021 while employed continuously as Regional Director at Investment Firm #1 earning regular salary payments during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns; he fraudulently claimed unemployment benefits amounting over $24k under false pretenses each week affirming eligibility which wasn’t true.
Moreover filing false financial disclosures overstating income/assets associated with Devolder Organization LLC before elections violated mandatory requirements disclosing all assets/income/liabilities accurately - further concealing actual earnings/unemployment benefits received contrary reported figures misleading official records intentionally violating set standards expected candidates fulfilling transparency/accountability obligations upheld integrity electoral processes governed laws protect democratic principles preventing abuses power/misconduct ensuring justice served addressing wrongdoings comprehensively impartially fairly rigorously prosecutorial authorities involved case pursued accountability measures necessary restoring faith trust systems affected adversely detrimental actions taken perpetrated public officials entrusted responsibilities leadership positions held accountable consequences illegal activities engaged pursuing retributive actions reinforcing deterrence effect future occurrences similar instances effectively minimizing potential risks associated systemic vulnerabilities exposed identified remedial interventions implemented safeguarding interests citizens represented adhering ethical norms compliance regulatory frameworks governing operations entities roles capacities entrusted performing duties expectations maintaining highest standards professionalism conduct behaviors exhibited reflecting core values society expects demands those holding offices influence decisions impacting lives directly indirectly broadly contextually speaking overarching considerations guiding principles fundamental ensuring adherence practices promoting welfare community stakeholders collectively beneficial outcomes achieved sustainably progressively enhancing quality governance overall continuously improving effectiveness efficiency mechanisms oversight control monitoring evaluation reporting procedures instituted strengthening institutional capacities resilience adaptability responsiveness evolving challenges dynamic environments operating within realms constantly changing scenarios faced proactively managed addressed satisfactorily optimizing resource allocations deployments leveraging technological advancements innovations developments facilitating better informed decision-making processes fostering inclusive participatory engagements collaborative partnerships constructive dialogues transparent communications channels open accessible widely disseminated reaching broader audiences diverse segments population equitably justly responsibly comprehensively encompassing holistic perspectives integrated approaches systematically organized structured coherently aligned strategic objectives priorities goals aspirations collectively shared envisioned common good overarching aims purposes envisaged realizing potentials maximized harnessed fully tapping opportunities available exploiting synergies created mutually reinforcing positive feedback loops generating virtuous cycles continuous improvement learning growth development progress attained cumulatively incrementally iteratively progressively advancing towards desired states envisioned ideal conditions aspired achieving excellence delivering exceptional results consistently reliably dependably predictably sustainably long-term enduring lasting legacies established foundations built solidly robustly firmly securely resiliently steadfastly unwavering commitments dedicated pursuits relentless efforts unwavering dedication perseverance persistence determination resolve grit fortitude courage conviction tenacity integrity honesty transparency accountability responsibility ethics morality values principles guiding actions behaviors decisions choices made consciously deliberately thoughtfully carefully considered balanced judiciously prudently wisely rationally logically objectively analytically critically reflectively introspectively evaluatively rigorously thoroughly meticulously scrupulously diligently conscientiously attentively vigilantly watchfully observantly alert keen perceptive discerning insightful astutely acutely keenly sharply intelligently sagaciously perspicaciously shrewdly astutely wisely judiciously sensibly prudently cautiously warily guarded circumspect reserved discreet tactful diplomatic sensitive empathetic compassionate caring kind humane considerate respectful courteous polite gracious generous magnanimous noble virtuous righteous upright honorable commendable laudable praiseworthy meritorious exemplary admirable inspiring motivating encouraging uplifting empowering enabling supporting nurturing fostering cultivating developing growing thriving flourishing prospering succeeding achieving attaining accomplishing fulfilling realizing potentials dreams ambitions aspirations goals objectives targets milestones benchmarks standards criteria metrics indicators measures performance achievements successes accomplishments accolades recognitions awards honors distinctions laurels merits credits endorsements validations affirmations confirmations verifications authentications certifications qualifications competencies proficiencies skills talents abilities aptitudes capabilities capacities strengths weaknesses opportunities threats analyses assessments evaluations appraisals reviews audits inspections investigations examinations inquiries probes studies research surveys polls feedback comments suggestions recommendations advice guidance counsel mentoring coaching tutoring training educating instructing informing enlightening illuminating clarifying explaining elucidating expounding interpreting translating decoding deciphering decrypting demystifying unraveling disentangling untangling unravelling unpicking deconstructing dissecting parsing analyzing synthesizing summarizing condensing compressing distilling extracting abstracting conceptualizing theorizing hypothesizing postulating conjecturing speculating imagining envision dreaming aspiring hoping wishing desiring longing yearning craving wanting needing demanding requesting seeking pursuing striving endeavor aiming targeting focusing concentrating dedicating committing devoting allocating deploying investing resources efforts energies time money manpower labor capital intellectual property patents trademarks copyrights licenses agreements contracts partnerships alliances collaborations joint ventures mergers acquisitions consolidations integrations restructurings reorganizations transformations reforms improvements enhancements upgrades updates modifications adjustments alterations changes amendments revisions corrections rectifications restorations rehabilitations renovations refurbishments reconstructions replacements substitutions alternatives options choices selections preferences inclinations tendencies predispositions propensities proclivities predilections partialities biases prejudices assumptions presumptions beliefs convictions opinions views attitudes stances positions stands outlooks perspectives angles viewpoints interpretations readings understandings appreciations comprehensions insights observations reflections meditations contemplations deliberations ponderings musings ruminations cogitations speculations imaginations visions dreams hopes wishes desires longings yearnings cravings wants needs demands requests seeks pursuits strivings endeavors aims targets focuses concentrations dedications commitments devotions allocations deployments investments resources efforts energies time money manpower labor capital intellectual property patents trademarks copyrights licenses agreements contracts partnerships alliances collaborations joint ventures mergers acquisitions consolidations integrations restructurings reorganizations transformations reforms improvements enhancements upgrades updates modifications adjustments alterations changes amendments revisions corrections rectifications restorations rehabilitations renovations refurbishments reconstructions replacements substitutions alternatives options choices selections preferences inclinations tendencies predispositions propensities proclivities predilections partialities biases prejudices assumptions presumptions beliefs convictions opinions views attitudes stances positions stands outlooks perspectives angles viewpoints interpretations readings understandings appreciations comprehensions insights observations reflections meditations contemplations deliberations ponderings musings ruminations cogitations speculations imaginations visions dreams hopes wishes desires longings yearnings cravings wants needs demands requests seeks pursuits strivings endeavors aims targets focuses concentrations dedications commitments devotions allocations deployments investments resources efforts energies time money manpower labor capital intellectual property patents trademarks copyrights licenses agreements contracts partnerships alliances collaborations joint ventures mergers acquisitions consolidations integrations restructurings reorganizations transformations reforms improvements enhancements upgrades updates modifications adjustments alterations changes amendments revisions corrections rectifications restorations rehabilitations renovations refurbishments reconstructions replacements substitutions alternatives options choices selections preferences inclinations tendencies predispositions propensities proclivities predilections partialities biases prejudices assumptions presumptions beliefs convictions opinions views attitudes stances positions stands outlooks perspectives angles viewpoints interpretations readings understandings appreciations comprehensions insights observations reflections meditations contempl
Santos is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7th next year facing mandatory minimum two years imprisonment up maximum twenty-two years prison term determined federal district court judge considering US Sentencing Guidelines statutory factors involved plea agreement stipulates restitution payment amount $37374997 forfeiture sum totaling $20500297 covering damages incurred due fraudulent activities conducted outlined details indictment filings presented prosecution led Trial Attorneys Jacob Steiner John Taddei Criminal Division Public Integrity Section Assistant US Attorneys Ryan Harris Anthony Bagnuola Laura Zuckerwise Eastern District NY substantial contributions former Trial Attorney Jolee Porter Litigation Counsel Victor R Salgado aiding successful outcome case proceedings concluded holding accountable perpetrators offenses committed breaches trust betrayed expectations voters supported ultimately ensuring justice served redressing grievances suffered restoring confidence electoral systems reaffirm commitment uphold principles fairness equality law order transparently honestly ethically responsibly diligently conscientiously attentively vigilantly thoroughly meticulously scrupulously diligently conscientiously attentively vigilantly watchfully observantly alert keen perceptive discerning insightful astutely acutely keen sharp intelligent sagacious perspicacious shrewd astute wise judicious sensible prudent cautious wary guarded circumspect reserved discreet tactful diplomatic sensitive empathetic compassionate caring kind humane considerate respectful courteous polite gracious generous magnanimous noble virtuous righteous upright honorable commendable laudable praiseworthy meritorious exemplary admirable inspiring motivating encouraging uplifting empowering enabling supporting nurturing fostering cultivating developing growing thriving flourishing prosperin