George Santos Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Faces Prison

After pleading guilty to two federal counts of fraud, the disgraced former Republican congressman, George Santos, faces years in prison.

Santos, 36, admitted wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and misusing campaign funds when he appeared in court in Central Islip, New York.

He also acknowledged making false statements and omissions on financial statements submitted to the House Ethics Committee and the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

The judge estimated a sentencing range of six to eight years for the charges he admitted.

His guilty plea cements the downfall of the novice New York politician, who was expelled from Congress last year after a brief, scandal-plagued tenure.

"I deeply regret my conduct and the harm it has caused and accept full responsibility for my actions," Santos said in a statement read to the court.

This is against his claims last year on charges including lying to Congress about his finances and using campaign contributions for personal expenses.

A plea agreement calls for Santos to make restitution of at least $374,000 (£288,000).

The aggravated identity theft charge carries a two-year mandatory prison term that must be served consecutively with any sentence for the wire fraud charge.

Santos was charged with 23 federal felony crimes including wire fraud, money laundering and the misuse of campaign funds.

In December, he became the first member of Congress to be expelled in over two decades and only the sixth ever. His short time in office was fraught with controversies, accusations of dishonesty, and allegations of fraud.

Santos won against a Democratic incumbent in 2022, flipping a district that includes parts of Long Island and Queens in New York.

However, he soon faced numerous allegations, including claims that he had fabricated details about his Wall Street career, university education, Jewish heritage, and his mother's death in the 9/11 attacks.

In 2023, the House Ethics Committee voted to investigate Santos over multiple allegations, including "unlawful activity" during his 2022 campaign, lying to Congress, and sexual misconduct.

Months later, federal prosecutors charged him with 13 counts, including seven for wire fraud, three for money laundering, one for theft of public funds, and two for lying to the House of Representatives.

He was later charged with 10 additional counts, accused of stealing the identities of campaign donors and using their credit cards.

The House ethics panel report was then released, accused him of misusing campaign funds for personal benefit - including on Botox, credit card debts, and subscriptions on the porn-heavy OnlyFans website.

Two of his former aides have already pleaded guilty to fraud in connection to Santos' campaign.

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