Ex-U.S. Rep. Santos to serve over seven years in prison

Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y.,  was sentenced to 87 months in prison on Friday for federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The sentence was in line with the sentence requested by prosecutors, more than sought by his legal team. 

Santos took a deal from prosecutors and pleaded guilty in August, allowing him to avoid standing trial for nearly two dozen financial crime charges. He admitted to deceiving voters and donors while stealing the identities of  numerous people, including members of his family, to funnel money into his congressional campaign.

How did lawyers argue for his court sentence? Prosecutors requested the former congressman serve over 7 years, the highest term suggested under the case’s investigative report. Prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum that Santos remained unrepentant for his crimes, citing comments he made on social media. Santos’ team insisted that the former politician understood the gravity of his crimes and requested a two-year sentence because of extenuating circumstances.

What kind of extenuating circumstances? Santos cooperated with federal investigators, his offenses were non-violent, and he lacked any criminal history, according to his team’s sentencing memorandum.

The defense also asked the judge to consider Santos’ background and life circumstances. The former congressman was raised by a father who drank heavily and a mother who frequently gambled. Now, he financially supports his sister and her severely autistic daughter, according to the memorandum. His team also cited health conditions and mental health challenges that should be considered before incarcerating the former politician. Santos’ lawyers admitted that the former congressman’s guilty plea merited about six to seven years in prison, but argued that the circumstances merited a variance in sentencing.

Throughout the investigation, Santos continued pleading his innocence and refused to leave office even after pleading guilty to the criminal charges. The House of Representatives formally expelled Santos in December with a 311-114 vote. 

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report about Santos getting ousted from the House in 2023.