NEW YORK (AP) — The prosecutors are requesting over seven years of imprisonment for the disgraced ex-U.S. Representative. George Santos following his admission of guilt to accusations of federal fraud and identity theft.
In a court document submitted on Friday, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York contended that a substantial prison term was justified due to the "unequaled offenses" committed by the New York Republican, which reportedly "mocked" America’s electoral process.
“The office stated, ‘By crafting an entirely fabricated autobiography and brazenly stealing funds from vulnerable senior citizens and disabled contributors, Santos’s unbridled greed and insatiable thirst for recognition allowed him to manipulate the systems through which we choose our leaders.’”
The prosecutors contended that Santos had remained "unapologetic and stubborn" over the years, brushing off the charges as a "witch hunt" and declining to step down from Congress even as his network of deceptions unraveled.
They indicated that his expressions of regret after admitting guilt "sound insincere," and implied he has a "significant chance of committing future offenses," since he hasn’t returned any of his unlawfully obtained assets or compensated those he harmed.
In an email to The Associated Press, Santos' attorneys dismissed the seven-year proposal as "preposterous and baseless," stating that it seems "aimed at harassing a person who has already accepted complete accountability for their conduct."
On Friday, in their sentencing memorandum, they dismissed the idea that Santos might revert to criminal activities, pointing out that he has no history of previous crimes and that he offers essential support to his sister and her child.
They advocated for a two-year jail time, which represents the required minimum punishment for aggravated identity theft.
The attorneys argue that such a ruling aligns with those previously imposed. the ex-U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. And other political figures dealing with analogous financial offenses.
They also highlighted Santos' collaboration in an independent federal probe involving a Texas man who attempted to defraud Santos of almost $1 million by pretending to be a political fixer willing to eliminate evidence in his cases.
"This statement, along with the substantial secondary repercussions Mr. Santos has endured—such as losing his position in Congress and facing public disgrace—would convey a definitive message that such behavior will not be condoned," the attorneys stated.
A federal judge on Long Island plans to determine Santos' sentencing at a court hearing set for April 25.
The previously ascending Republican, who represented sections of Queens and Long Island, spent less than a year in office before being removed from his position by fellow members of the House in 2023; this made him only the sixth person to be expelled in the chamber’s history.
Santos' political downfall occurred following revelations that he had fabricated significant portions of his personal narrative. questions regarding how the politically untested candidate financed his successful election bid.
The 36-year-old actor portrayed himself as a affluent tycoon with degrees from elite institutions, experience at prominent Wall Street companies, and an impressive collection of real estate assets. However, in reality, he was grappling with financial difficulties and even risked being evicted.
Santos admitted In August, he misled voters, tricked contributors, and took the identities of about a dozen individuals, even some from his own family, to fundraise for his congressional bid.
He was originally scheduled to be sentenced in February, but a judge granted him an extension. three-month reprieve to generate over half a million dollars in judicial penalties.
As part of his plea agreement, Santos consented to paying approximately $375,000 in restitution and $205,000 in forfeited assets.
At the time, Santos' attorneys stated that he possessed barely over $1,000 in readily accessible funds and required additional time to develop his recently initiated podcast "Pants on Fire" so as to start settling his financial obligations.
Prosecutors assert that Santos benefited greatly from his notoriety, claiming he has raked in over $800,000 as a result. appearances on the video-sharing platform Cameo And following his removal from Congress, due to a new documentary.
Additionally, two members of Santos' campaign staff have admitted guilt related to federal charges concerning the campaign finance scandal.
Sam Miele, who previously served as his campaign fundraiser, was sentenced in March for one year and one day in federal prison. He confessed to posing as a senior congressional staffer and using donors' credit cards without permission while collecting campaign funds for Santos.
Nancy Marks Santos' ex-campaign treasurer confessed to submitting fraudulent campaign finance documents that included nonexistent donors and a phony $500,000 personal loan from Santos.
The additions assisted the campaign in reaching the necessary funding milestones required to secure financial support from the national Republican Party. Marks is scheduled to be sentenced in May.
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Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo .
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