George Santos sentenced to over seven years in prison for fraud and identity theft

Former Rep. George Santos was sentenced to 87 months just over seven years in federal prison on Friday, marking a dramatic downfall for the once-rising Republican lawmaker. U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert handed down the sentence in a New York courtroom after Santos pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The disgraced congressman, 36, was also ordered to pay nearly $374,000 in restitution and must surrender to federal custody by July 25, 2025.

Santos appeared emotional during the proceedings, delivering a tearful plea for leniency. He admitted to betraying the trust of his constituents but claimed his actions stemmed from desperation rather than malice. Judge Seybert, however, was unmoved by the display.

“Where is the remorse?” the judge asked, noting that despite her general aversion to handing out prison sentences, Santos was “fully deserving” of the punishment. The courtroom watched as the reality of the sentence settled in for the former congressman, who once represented a Long Island district that helped secure a GOP majority in 2022.

Santos’s legal troubles stem from an astonishing web of lies and financial misconduct that unraveled shortly after his election. Prosecutors said Santos crafted a completely fictitious biography to gain political traction, then used that momentum to defraud donors, some of whom were elderly and cognitively impaired.

In their sentencing memorandum, prosecutors described Santos as a “pathological liar” with “unparalleled crimes” against the public trust. They argued he exploited both the electoral system and the generosity of his supporters for personal enrichment.

Among the more shocking allegations: Santos used stolen credit card data to make unauthorized campaign donations and spent funds meant for his campaign on luxury goods, Las Vegas trips, cosmetic treatments, and even a subscription to the adult content site OnlyFans.

Federal prosecutors highlighted Santos’s continued lack of contrition, pointing to his post-conviction behavior. In particular, they cited his podcast, "Pants on Fire with George Santos," as evidence of his ongoing attempts to profit from his notoriety.

“This is a perfect crystallization of his lack of genuine remorse,” prosecutors wrote. “His craven efforts to leverage his lawbreaking into celebrity and riches, while failing to repay victims, make clear the need for a strong deterrent.”

They added that he remains financially evasive, noting conflicting statements about his income from Cameo and a documentary project. One filing accused him of inflating earnings in one setting while downplaying them in official disclosures further proof, prosecutors argued, that Santos remains unrepentant.

Santos’s legal team had urged the judge to impose a lighter sentence of just two years, arguing that the former lawmaker’s crimes were driven by political desperation, not inherent criminal intent. They emphasized that Santos had no prior criminal record and claimed the public disgrace and expulsion from Congress served as sufficient deterrent to others.

“Mr. Santos’s fall from grace is itself a cautionary tale,” the defense stated. They acknowledged his wrongdoing but suggested it came from an ambition gone wrong, not premeditated malice.

Despite a plea agreement that included over $373,000 in restitution and a $200,000 forfeiture, prosecutors revealed that Santos has yet to pay a single dollar to his victims. He acknowledged the debt during a recent interview but said he lacked the means to pay though he remained hopeful he could arrange something before his surrender date.

In a recent podcast episode, Santos joked about requesting a pardon from former President Donald Trump: “You bet your sweet a-- I would.” He later clarified that he hadn’t reached out, but believed Trump was aware of his situation and might intervene.

For now, however, Santos faces years behind bars, a shattered reputation, and a political career in ruins.