New York: Former U.S. Representative George Santos, whose brief stint in Congress was marred by scandal and deception, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison following a guilty plea to charges of fraud and identity theft. The sentence, delivered by U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert in the Eastern District of New York, follows a tumultuous period that saw Santos expelled from the House of Representatives.
The 36-year-old politician pleaded guilty in August to two of the 23 criminal charges against him. Prosecutors said Santos had deliberately inflated campaign fundraising numbers and fabricated donor identities in order to secure financial backing from the Republican Party during the 2022 election cycle. His actions helped him win a congressional seat representing parts of New York City and its eastern suburbs.
Former US Representative George Santos is sentenced to more than seven years in prison. He is also ordered to pay more than $370,000 in restitution and forfeit more than $200,000 https://t.co/cS41IaR3Q0 pic.twitter.com/3bi3aNvdrA
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 26, 2025
During the sentencing hearing on Friday, Judge Seybert directly addressed Santos: “Mr. Santos, words have consequences,” she said. “You got elected with your words, most of which were lies.”
Prosecutors had previously urged the court to impose the maximum sentence under federal guidelines, arguing that the scope and audacity of Santos’ misconduct warranted the full 87-month term.
Throughout his campaign and time in office, Santos was repeatedly exposed for making false claims, including saying he attended New York University, worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and that his grandparents fled the Holocaust—none of which were true.
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Santos’ legal troubles escalated in May 2023 when federal prosecutors charged him with laundering campaign contributions for personal use, fraudulently charging donors’ credit cards, and illegally collecting unemployment benefits while he was employed.
As part of a plea agreement, Santos admitted to the full extent of the misconduct outlined in the indictment, despite formally pleading guilty to only two counts.
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His brief 11-month tenure in Congress was defined by mounting scandals, growing isolation from colleagues, and frequent ridicule in the media. In December, a bipartisan House Ethics Committee investigation concluded that Santos had misused campaign funds for personal indulgences, including Botox treatments, high-end luxury goods such as Hermes, and subscriptions to OnlyFans, a platform commonly associated with adult content.
He is required to report to prison by July 25.
