Ex-GOP Rep. George Santos pleads guilty to two federal charges in fraud trial

There is a two-year mandatory minimum sentence, but the judge estimated that the sentence could range between six to eight years.

By Natalia Mittelstadt

Published: August 19, 2024 3:49pm

Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., pleaded guilty in New York court on Monday to two federal charges related to his 2022 campaign.

Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identify theft, CBS News reported.

There is a two-year mandatory minimum sentence, but the judge estimated that the sentence could range between six to eight years. The sentencing hearing will occur later this year.

Santos' plea agreement calls for at least $373,749.97 in restitution.

He was indicted on 23 counts in the Eastern District of New York including ones on identity theft, wire fraud, money laundering and giving false statements to the Federal Election Commission.

He originally pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Santos was expelled from the House in December 2023. Concerns about potential campaign finance violations emerged after the resume on which he successfully ran for Congress was discovered to include exaggerations and falsehoods.

He was expelled after a House Ethics Committee investigation concluded that Santos misused campaign funds for personal expenses and "engaged in knowing and willful violations of the Ethics in Government Act as it relates to his Financial Disclosure (FD) Statements filed with the House."