George Santos Starts Seven-Year Sentence After Fraud Scandal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former U.S. Representative George Santos begins serving a seven-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to wire fraud and identity theft. The disgraced New York Republican was expelled from Congress in 2023 after a series of lies unraveled his public persona. Santos claims he’s “not suicidal” and views his prison term as a “death sentence.”
George Santos Prison Sentence + Quick Looks
- Santos begins serving 7-year sentence for federal fraud
- Convicted of wire fraud, identity theft in 2024
- Expelled from Congress after lying about life history
- Judge rejected his request for reduced two-year sentence
- Santos says prison term feels like “a death sentence”
- Expected to serve time in minimum-security prison
- Launched podcast and sold Cameo videos after ouster
- Publicly begged Trump for clemency, no response yet
- Infamous for lies about education, heritage, and career
- Reportedly “profoundly sorry” but showed little remorse in court
George Santos Starts Seven-Year Sentence After Fraud Scandal
Deep Look
George Santos, the former Republican congressman from New York whose fabrications and financial misconduct led to a spectacular fall from grace, is set to begin serving a seven-year prison sentence following his conviction on federal fraud charges.
Santos must report to prison by 2 p.m. Friday, according to court orders. While the exact location remains undisclosed, a federal judge recommended placement in a minimum-security facility in the Northeast. His legal team declined to comment, and the Bureau of Prisons has withheld further details until his intake is official.
Convicted last year of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, Santos admitted to deceiving donors and stealing identities in an elaborate scheme to bankroll his successful 2022 congressional campaign. The case, combined with mounting scrutiny over his resume fabrications, led to a rare bipartisan expulsion from the House in December 2023 — making him just the sixth member ever ousted from Congress.
Despite the looming sentence, Santos has not shied from the spotlight.
In a dramatic interview with Tucker Carlson, he said, “I’m not built for this,” calling the sentence a “death sentence.” In another interview with Al Arabiya, Santos described the minimum-security “camp” he’s heading to as a “big upgrade” from the initial medium-security assignment.
On social media, Santos struck a theatrical tone. He posted a clip of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” quoting, “The end is near… and so I face the final curtain.” But he also issued a stern disclaimer: “I’m not suicidal. I’m not depressed. I will not willingly engage in any sexual activity while I’m in there.”
His online statements appear aimed at quashing speculation and guarding against potential rumors or conspiracies regarding his well-being behind bars.
Earlier this year, Santos unsuccessfully petitioned the court for a lighter two-year sentence. The judge, however, expressed skepticism over his claimed remorse, especially as he continued to label his prosecution a “witch hunt.” While Santos eventually apologized publicly, the judge said the gravity of his crimes demanded full accountability.
Elected in 2022, Santos flipped a traditionally Democratic district in Queens and Long Island for the GOP. His campaign painted him as a wealthy financier with prestigious credentials. But within months, media reports and federal investigations unraveled a web of lies: Santos never attended the universities he cited, never worked at Goldman Sachs or Citigroup, and falsely claimed Jewish heritage — later calling himself “Jew-ish.”
Even as his personal mythology crumbled, Santos doubled down, portraying himself as a political martyr. After his expulsion, he launched a podcast titled Pants on Fire with George Santos and sold personalized video messages on Cameo. He has leaned into his notoriety, mocking political opponents and leaning on his association with Donald Trump to maintain relevance.
His final hope, it seemed, was a presidential pardon. Santos made several appeals to Trump’s administration in recent months, praising the president and expressing loyalty. However, the White House said this week it would “not comment on the existence or nonexistence” of any clemency request.
Now 37, Santos faces a new chapter behind bars. His sentence marks a dramatic fall for a man once seen as a rising star in Republican politics — but whose tenure will be remembered more for deception than legislation.
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