Former U.S. Representative George Santos has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The sentencing marks a dramatic fall for the once-rising political figure whose brief time in Congress ended in scandal and expulsion.
U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert handed down an 87-month sentence in federal court in Central Islip, New York. In addition to prison time, Santos was ordered to serve two years of supervised release, pay nearly $374,000 in restitution, and forfeit over $205,000.
At 36 years old, Santos admitted to orchestrating a series of elaborate financial schemes, including defrauding campaign donors, misusing campaign funds for personal luxuries, and illegally collecting pandemic-era unemployment benefits while still drawing a salary. Prosecutors emphasized that even after pleading guilty, Santos showed little genuine remorse—blaming others and minimizing his own actions on social media.
Elected in 2022, Santos’s congressional career quickly unraveled after investigative reports revealed a staggering pattern of lies about his education, work history, and personal background. His fabrications sparked bipartisan outrage and led to his expulsion from the House of Representatives in December 2023, making him only the sixth member ever expelled by his peers.
The downfall of Santos was viewed by many as a rare case of bipartisan agreement in Washington—both Republicans and Democrats acknowledging that someone so deeply dishonest and self-serving could not remain in public office.
Despite the weight of the evidence against him, Santos’s legal team slammed the sentence as “excessively harsh” and announced they would seek a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.
Santos has been ordered to surrender to federal authorities by July 25, 2025.
The case serves as a stark reminder that public trust in elected officials is fragile—and that violating that trust carries serious consequences. While Santos’s expulsion and conviction bring a measure of accountability, it also leaves a lingering question about how he was ever able to rise to Congress in the first place without serious vetting.
Hi my name is George Santos and the DOJ has had a hard on for me since December of 2022.
I refuse to let them break me or my spirit and that makes them big Mad… they have used elaborate language to drag me and hinder my ability to earn income…
Long story short, I will NOT…
— Pants On Fire with George Santos (@MrSantosNY) April 5, 2025