Former U.S. Representative George Santos was sentenced on April 25, 2025, to 87 months in federal prison — the maximum allowed — for his involvement in a series of fraudulent schemes.
The sentencing took place in Central Islip, New York, where U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert also ordered two years of supervised release following his prison term.
Santos, 36, was convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, serious offenses that carried a sentencing range of 75 to 87 months. His mandatory minimum sentence for identity theft alone required at least two years of imprisonment.
A Tearful Apology
In court, George Santos seemed upset and sorry during the punishment hearing. He told the court through tears that he had broken the trust of his followers.
“My actions betrayed my supporters and the institutions I swore to protect,” he said, admitting that he felt bad about the lies that helped him win the congressional seat in 2022.
However, his courtroom apology came in sharp contrast to his recent online behavior, which prosecutors used to argue he had not fully accepted responsibility.
Prosecutors Cite Ongoing Defiance
Federal prosecutors pushed for the harshest possible sentence, describing Santos’ behavior as a “brazen web of deceit.” They emphasized that he misled donors and manipulated voters with a completely fictitious personal and professional background.
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In their sentencing memorandum, prosecutors cited Santos’ recent social media activity as proof that he remained unrepentant. One notable post, made on April 4 — the same day the DOJ filed its sentencing recommendation — read:
“No matter how hard the DOJ comes for me, they are mad because they will NEVER break my spirit.” Prosecutors said such defiance demonstrated a lack of remorse and accountability.
A Web of Lies and Fraud
George Santos began doing illegal things while he was running for Congress in New York’s 3rd Congressional District. Court documents say he lied about almost every part of his past, including where he went to school, what jobs he had, and even his family history, to get people to vote for him and give him money.
Prosecutors asserted that he didn’t just pad his resume — he created a wholly fictitious identity to obtain campaign donations and use them for personal gain. His fraudulent actions extended to using stolen identities and falsified donations in order to exploit federal funds and mislead campaign finance regulators.
In August 2024, Santos pleaded guilty to two counts out of nearly a dozen criminal charges. The plea was part of a larger agreement with federal prosecutors that ultimately led to his sentencing in April.
No Expectations, No Questions
CBS News reached George Santos by phone the morning of his sentencing as he drove to the courthouse. He stated he had “no expectations” about the sentence and appeared to have accepted the possibility of a long prison term.
Santos declined to answer questions from the press upon arriving in Central Islip. Sentencing proceedings began at 10:30 a.m. and got attention from the national media. CBS New York showed a live show as the case went on, which showed how public Santos’ fall from grace was.
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A Story for Public Officials to Learn From
After the sentence, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York spoke to the public and reaffirmed the Department of Justice’s promise to hold elected leaders responsible for crimes they make.
The story of George Santos is a powerful example of how desire and lying can hurt democracy institutions and hurt the public’s trust in them. He once won a place in Congress by carefully crafting an image.
However, investigations, court cases, and finally a hard jail term revealed the real of his story. George Santos is about to start more than seven years in prison. His story is a strong warning that in American politics, truth and responsibility are still very important.
