NEW YORK — Former U.S. Representative George Anthony Devolder Santos, 36, of Queens, New York, pleaded guilty today to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The charges stem from a series of fraudulent activities committed during his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, which have now culminated in his admission of guilt.
According to the plea, Santos acknowledged that he engaged in multiple illegal activities, including filing fraudulent reports with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), embezzling funds from campaign donors, unauthorized credit card charges, identity theft, fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits, and lying in official reports submitted to the House of Representatives.
“As part of his campaign for election to the U.S. House of Representatives, George Santos committed fraud and identity theft, and lied to the American people about his personal finances and campaign supporters,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In doing so, Santos violated laws designed to ensure that the public has accurate information about the personal finances of individuals who seek to represent them in Congress and how their political campaigns are funded.”
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York emphasized the gravity of Santos’s actions: “By pleading guilty, Mr. Santos has acknowledged that he repeatedly defrauded federal and state government institutions as well as his own family, supporters, and constituents. His flagrant and disgraceful conduct has been exposed and will be punished.”
Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie M. Curtis of the FBI’s New York Field Office highlighted the impact of Santos’s crimes on public trust: “Today, George Santos admitted that he did in fact lie, cheat, and steal his way to elected office. When public officials place their self-interests above those they swore an oath to serve, it undermines confidence in our system of government and damages the very foundation of our democracy.”