Ex-congressman George Santos sentenced to 87 months in prison

Key Points of George Santos' Sentencing

Former U.S. Representative George Santos was sentenced to 87 months in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The sentence includes restitution to victims totaling $578,752.94 and forfeiture of $205,002.97.

Santos pleaded guilty in August 2024. The charges stem from a scheme involving false campaign finance reports, misuse of COVID unemployment benefits, and providing false information in financial disclosures.

Statements from Officials

• United States Attorney John J. Durham emphasized holding Santos accountable for his actions and the commitment to rooting out public corruption.
• FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia highlighted Santos' abuse of authority and betrayal of public trust.
• IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis Jr. focused on Santos' disregard for campaign finance laws and abuse of constituent trust.
• Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly described Santos as an opportunist and a fraud who violated the trust placed in him.

Santos' criminal scheme included inflating campaign fundraising numbers to qualify for a national party committee program, falsely reporting family member contributions and personal loans, and using fraudulently obtained funds to finance his campaign.