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George Santos pleads guilty to wire fraud and identity theft – what you should know

Top line

Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft on Monday, according to multiple reports, allowing the ousted lawmaker to avoid a federal court trial on charges that have dogged him for nearly two years and resulted in him becoming only the sixth person in history to be expelled from the House of Representatives.

Key data

According to CBS News, Santos, 36, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and agreed to pay at least $373,749.97 in restitution.

The ousted congressman pleaded not guilty to 13 federal charges last May, including wire fraud, money laundering and falsifying financial statements. In October, Santos was indicted on 10 additional counts for allegedly stealing donors' identities and financial information.

In his plea, Santos admitted to making false statements to the Federal Election Commission, committing wire fraud, and using the identification and credit cards of at least one person for his personal benefit.

He also admitted to applying for unemployment benefits to which he was not entitled and making false statements and omissions in his financial reports to the House Ethics Committee.

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What you should pay attention to

Judge Joanna Seybert has scheduled Santos' sentencing for February 7, 2025. Santos faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for both charges, although Seybert reportedly said Santos could be sentenced to up to eight years in prison.

Large number

22 years. That's the maximum sentence Santos could have received if he had been found guilty on all counts and given the longest possible prison term, which is unusual. Defendants who plead guilty often receive shorter sentences – or can avoid prison altogether.

Important background

Santos' short tenure was surrounded by controversy. The former congressman was accused of lying about his past just weeks after winning the 2022 midterm elections for New York's 3rd congressional district, leading to calls for his resignation. In May 2023, prosecutors indicted Santos, alleging that he orchestrated a plot over months to deceive donors to his House campaign by funneling donations to a Florida-based LLC under the guise that the money would benefit his campaign, while the funds were instead used for his own personal expenses. He was also accused of falsifying financial reports for the House of Representatives and applying for unemployment benefits in New York despite earning about $120,000 annually. In October, prosecutors alleged that Santos participated in a “party platform conspiracy” with his former campaign treasurer after filing false reports inflating campaign fundraising figures. Santos also repeatedly charged donors' credit cards without authorization, prosecutors said. Santos reportedly indicated at the time that he would “continue to fight this” and “not take a deal.” But he later said that a plea deal with the charges was “not out of the question” because he “definitely wants to work very hard” to avoid prison time.

Surprising fact

Santos was the sixth person expelled from the House of Representatives following a 311-114 vote in December. The vote followed a report by the House Ethics Committee that alleged that Santos “attempted to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his candidacy for the House of Representatives for his personal financial gain.” Santos announced after his expulsion that he would not seek re-election.

More information

ForbesReport: George Santos likely to plead guilty in fraud and money laundering caseFrom Antonio Klein IVForbesGeorge Santos thrown out of the houseFrom Ana Faguy

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