CENTRAL ISLIP, New York — Former U.S. Representative George Santos pleaded guilty to criminal corruption charges on Monday, Aug.
19, cementing the downfall of a novice politician who was expelled from Congress last year after a brief, scandal-plagued tenure. Santos, a Republican, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a minimum two-year prison sentence. He entered his guilty plea at a hearing before U.
S. District Judge Joanna Seybert in Central Islip, New York, on Long Island. After pleading guilty, Santos, 36, apologized to his constituents.
ADVERTISEMENT "I deeply regret my conduct and the harm it has caused and accept full responsibility for my actions," Santos said in court, his voice shaking as he read from a prepared statement. Santos is set to be sentenced on Feb. 7.
He could face as much as 22 years in prison, and waived his right to appeal any sentence less than 95 months - just under eight years - as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors. Santos was hit with federal charges in May 2023 for laundering campaign funds to pay for his personal expenses, charging donors' credit cards without their consent, and receiving unemployment benefits while he was employed. He has been free on $500,000 bond since his arrest.
Santos had initially pleaded not guilty. He had been in plea talks with prosecutors since last December. His indictment prompted lawmakers to expel him from the House of Representatives in De.