George Santos, the disgraced former congressman, once hailed as a rising political star, is now an admitted fraudster. On Monday, Santos pleaded guilty in federal court to a series of crimes that paint a damning picture of deceit, corruption, and betrayal of the public trust. His actions, which ranged from embezzling funds from campaign donors to committing identity theft, reveal a man who leveraged his position of power to exploit both his constituents and the government.
Santos, who once represented New York’s Third Congressional District, has now confessed to concocting elaborate schemes to defraud donors, federal institutions, and even his own family. U.S. Attorney Breon Peace did not mince words.
“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,” said Peace in a statement. “He admitted to lying, stealing, and conning people.”
Santos’ crimes began during his 2022 campaign when he, along with his treasurer Nancy Marks, orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to inflate campaign fundraising numbers. The goal? To qualify for a program run by a national party committee, which would provide significant financial support. They falsely reported large donations from family members and even claimed Santos had loaned the campaign $500,000—money he simply didn’t have. This web of lies successfully fooled the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and secured the support Santos craved.
But the deception didn’t stop there. Santos’ greed extended to his own donors. From July 2020 to October 2022, Santos stole the personal identity and financial information of his contributors. He repeatedly charged their credit cards without authorization, funneling the money into his campaign, other political campaigns, and even his own bank account. To cover his tracks, Santos falsified FEC filings, attributing the fraudulent contributions to relatives or associates rather than the actual cardholders.
“Today, George Santos admitted that he did in fact lie, cheat, and steal his way to elected office,” said Christie Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office. “When public officials place their self-interests above those they swore an oath to serve, it undermines confidence in our system of government and damages the very foundation of our democracy.”
Santos’ thirst for wealth and power was insatiable. In the months leading up to his 2022 election victory, he created a limited liability company to further deceive potential donors. Through a Queens-based political consultant, Santos falsely promised that their contributions would fund his campaign’s television advertisements. Instead, the money was funneled into Santos’ personal accounts, used to buy designer clothing, withdraw cash, and pay off personal debts. This fraudulent political contribution solicitation scheme alone defrauded two donors of $25,000 each.
Santos also exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to line his pockets. Although he was employed and receiving a salary, Santos falsely claimed unemployment benefits from March 2020 to April 2021, pocketing over $24,000 in federal aid. The extent of his deceit was laid bare when he falsely certified to the New York State Department of Labor that he was unemployed, all while continuing to work as a Regional Director of a Florida-based investment firm.
“George Santos built a career on deception and funded his lifestyle using the identities of people he misled, including Nassau County residents who believed they were contributing to Santos’ campaign and participating in the electoral process,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “The defendant rode a wave of his lies all the way to Congress and endlessly abused the trust of his constituents.”
Santos’ final act of deception involved his financial disclosures to the House of Representatives. He falsely reported earning $750,000 in salary from his Florida-based entity, the Devolder Organization LLC, and claimed between $1 million and $5 million in dividends. Santos even exaggerated the balances in his checking and savings accounts, attempting to create an illusion of financial stability and success.
Santos now faces a minimum of two years and up to 22 years in prison. He will also pay restitution of $373,749.97 and forfeiture of $205,002.97. His guilty plea marks the fall of a man who once aspired to be a leader, now reduced to a cautionary tale of unchecked ambition and corruption.
As Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri said in a statement, “The transparency and accuracy that these laws require are essential to the integrity of the election process, and today’s conviction is proof that the Criminal Division is committed to enforcing them.”
Photo: U.S. House Office of Photography, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
