Ex-Rep. George Santos sentenced to 87 months in federal fraud cause

(NewsNation) — Former U.S. Rep. George Santos has been sentenced to 87 months in prison for federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The decision, made in a New York federal court Friday, comes after Santos pleaded guilty to defrauding donors and committing identity theft last summer.

The New York Republican is also liable to pay roughly $580,000 in penalties as part of a plea deal.

“Come July 25, George Santos will finally be where he belongs — behind bars answering for these crimes,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly told the media after the sentencing.

The sentence puts Santos in federal prison for seven years, a length prosecutors previously sought, according to court documents.

“Santos planned and executed an assortment of fraudulent schemes and leveraged them and a fictitious life story to enrich himself and capture one of the highest offices in the government of the United States,” Department of Justice attorneys wrote.

Santos, who was ousted from Congress in 2023, previously admitted to duping donors and stealing the identities of nearly a dozen people to fund his campaign.

Soon after flipping New York’s 3rd Congressional District for the GOP in 2022, it was discovered that Santos had fabricated much of his backstory — including lies about owning businesses, holding jobs and buying real estate.

He told reporters earlier this week he was resigned to whatever happens Friday.

“I’m doing as well as any human being would be doing given the circumstances,” Santos wrote in a text message to the Associated Press on Thursday. “I will be in court tomorrow, ready to face the music.”