George Santos pleads guilty to wire fraud and identity theft: Will he go to jail? When is the sentencing?

In a development that surprised absolutely no one except, perhaps, George Santos himself, the former US Representative pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on Monday. This, some would say, marks a fitting end to the brief and scandal-ridden political career – a timeline of which you can read here – of a man whose resume appears to have turned out to be more fiction than fact.

What crime has George Santos committed?

Santos, a Republican who once represented a part of New York City and its suburbs, admitted in a federal courthouse on Long Island that he had fabricated fundraising numbers and faked donor names. These actions were part of a scheme to qualify for financial and logistical support from his party during the 2022 election cycle – a support system that helped him clinch a seat in Congress. Unfortunately for Santos, the seat proved to be more of a hot seat, as the lies that got him there unraveled with spectacular speed.

With his voice shaking and his political aspirations thoroughly dismantled, the 36-year-old apologised to his constituents.

“I deeply regret my conduct and the harm it has caused and accept full responsibility for my actions,” he stated, likely aware that there were few other viable options left.

George Santos sentencing early 2025

The former Congressman is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7, 2025, and things don’t look particularly promising for his immediate future. The charge of aggravated identity theft alone carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence, and Santos could face up to 22 years in total. As part of his plea deal, he agreed not to appeal any sentence less than 95 months – a period just shy of eight years.

This deal was struck after Santos initially pleaded not guilty when he was first slapped with federal charges in May 2023. These charges were a smorgasbord of bad decisions, including laundering campaign funds for personal expenses, charging donors’ credit cards without their consent, and even receiving unemployment benefits while he was, you know, employed. When you mix audacity with incompetence, you get a recipe that lands you in federal court.

But Santos’ troubles didn’t end with his legal woes.

The indictment that led to his guilty plea also triggered his expulsion from the House of Representatives last December. And just in case anyone thought he might go quietly, Santos ensured his exit was as memorable as his time in office by declaring, “To hell with this place,” before departing the Capitol. One could argue that the feeling was mutual after his 11-month stint in Congress, built on lies and rather questionable spending habits, which included Botox and OnlyFans.

Reflecting on his downfall, Santos made some admissions to reporters outside the courthouse before departing.

“It’s clear to me now that I allowed ambition to cloud my judgment, leading me to make decisions that were unethical and illegal.”

As for his seat in Congress, it was filled in a special election by Democrat Tom Suozzi. One can only hope that Suozzi’s tenure will be somewhat less eventful, at least in terms of dishonesty and criminality, than that of his predecessor. Now, we await the sentencing decision next February to see just how long George Santos will have to trade in his tailored suits for prison stripes.