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Former Representative George Santos, who was expelled from Congress due to a series of fabrications about his personal and professional history, is scheduled to receive his sentencing on Friday for federal fraud charges.
In August, Santos pleaded guilty to engaging in a complex scheme involving campaign finance violations, improperly obtaining unemployment benefits amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and providing false information on financial disclosure statements to the House.
Under a plea agreement in U.S. District Court in Long Island, he confessed to one count each of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. As part of the agreement, Santos also committed to repaying and forfeiting nearly $580,000.
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In his plea for leniency, Santos has requested that Judge Joanna Seybert impose the mandatory minimum sentence of two years. He claims that he has taken responsibility for his actions and cooperated fully with the authorities during the investigation.
However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is advocating for a significantly harsher penalty of 87 months in prison. In a court document submitted last week, prosecutors argued that Santos’ recent defiant behavior on social media indicates a lack of remorse for his offenses.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
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