(TheLastPatriotNews.com) – In a case of much-need justice being served, lying former Long Island US Rep. George Santos has confessed to betraying his constituents, pleading guilty to corruption charges that could result in a multi-year prison sentence.
See a news alert video reporting on Santos’s conviction in the tweet below!
On Monday, Santos, age 36, agreed to a plea deal for two charges: committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, just three weeks before his trial was due to begin.
He faced nearly two dozen charges and a potential 20-year prison term, The New York Post reports.
“I understand and fully accept responsibility for my actions,” Santos stated in a Central Islip federal court, his voice shaking.
“I betrayed the trust of my constituents and supporters. I deeply regret my conduct. I will do my best to make amends and learn from this experience,” he added, cited by National Review.
When sentenced on February 7, Santos could receive a minimum of two years and up to 20 years in prison.
Federal guidelines suggest a sentence of six to just over seven years.
“I participated in a scheme from October 2021 to October 2022 to file for false statements for the purposes of inflating my campaign contribution data,” Santos rapidly explained to the judge, who had to ask him to slow his speech.
He disclosed, referencing his former campaign treasurer, who also pleaded guilty to fraud, “I, along with Nancy Marks, filed the list of false names. We used the names of our friends and family. I used these names to artificially inflate the numbers of our donors.”
Previously, he had pleaded not guilty to various charges related to laundering campaign funds and defrauding donors.
According to federal prosecutors, he misrepresented his wealth to Congress, improperly collected unemployment benefits while employed, and used campaign funds for personal expenses such as designer clothing, Botox injections, and extravagant trips.
After the court session, Santos spoke outside, wearing designer sunglasses, and acknowledged, “It’s clear to me now that I allowed ambition to cloud my judgment, leading me to make decisions that were unethical and guilty.”
“To my family, friends and the people of New York’s third Congressional District, I offer my deepest apologies,” he added.
Santos, who falsely claimed during his 2022 campaign to have degrees from prestigious universities and to have worked at leading financial firms, was notably dishonest, leading the prosecutors to request that his prior deceptive acts be considered during his trial to support the 23 fraud charges against him.
“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. He admitted to lying, stealing and conning people,” remarked US Attorney Breon Peace, who led the prosecution.
Santos was the first House Republican—and only the sixth US Representative—to be expelled from office following an ethics investigation.
Fox News Alert: Expelled Congressman George Santos pleads guilty to two felony counts of wire fraud and aggravated identify theft in fraud case
pic.twitter.com/a5rZwEIbWj— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) August 19, 2024
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