Lyin’ ex-Lengthy Island Rep. George Santos pleaded responsible to corruption expenses in a sprawling federal fraud case Monday — simply three weeks earlier than he was set to face trial.
Santos, 36, appeared in Central Islip federal courtroom the place he copped a plea deal to 2 counts –committing wire fraud and aggravated id theft — permitting him to keep away from trial on almost two dozen expenses for which he confronted 20 years in jail.
His sentencing can be on Feb. 7.
The New York Republican congressman — who has since been kicked out of workplace — initially pleaded not responsible to a slew of crimes tied to laundering marketing campaign funds and defrauding donors.
The feds say he lied to Congress about his wealth, collected unemployment advantages whereas he was truly working and used marketing campaign contributions on bills for himself like shopping for designer garments, getting Botox injections and taking lavish journeys.
He would have confronted as much as 20 years behind bars if convicted at trial. He should still face jail time at his sentencing however it’s prone to be far much less beneath federal sentencing tips — that are lowered when a defendant has accepted accountability.
Santos notoriously fibbed whereas on the marketing campaign trial, previous to his election in 2022, about graduating from New York College and Baruch Faculty and likewise about working at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, the feds alleged in asking a decide to permit the extra prior conduct to be allowed in at trial to bolster their 23 fraud expenses.
He was elected in 2022 to signify components of Nassau County and Queens however was the primary Home Republican — and solely the sixth US Consultant — to be expelled from workplace in December.
An ethics investigation discovered that there was “overwhelming proof” he’d damaged the regulation and used his place in workplace for private acquire.
Santos then launched a failed bid to run as an Unbiased to unseat Suffolk County Congressman Nick LaLota, earlier than calling it quits when he didn’t increase sufficient cash.
Earlier Monday, a Manhattan federal decide tossed Santos’ go well with towards late evening tv host Jimmy Kimmel for allegedly misusing his Cameo clips on “Jimmy Kimmel Stay.”
Choose Denise Cote discovered the brief movies “had been used for political commentary and criticism,” which is what the movies had been supposed for.
Santos claimed he was tricked into making over 14 movies, which the talk-show host allegedly used to ridicule him.
Kimmel blasted the go well with as “preposterous” on the time.
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