George Santos, a former Republican congressman from New York, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison due to a series of frauds and deceptions, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. His downfall was precipitated by lies about his résumé, fraudulent financial activities, and misuse of campaign funds, which led to his expulsion from Congress. During his sentencing, Santos expressed remorse, but the judge questioned his sincerity due to his failure to pay restitution and continued lavish lifestyle. Despite Santos's pleas for leniency, the court sided with federal prosecutors, emphasizing the need to protect the public from his fraudulent tendencies. His conviction marks a substantial fall from grace, highlighting the consequences of his deceitful actions and the subsequent bipartisan decision in Congress to expel him even before his conviction.

George Santos was sentenced to over seven years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, admitting to various lies and fraudulent activities, including deceiving Congress and misusing campaign funds.

His dramatic rise and fall stemmed from fabrications about his background and career, which included false claims about being a college athlete, Wall Street financier, and ties to historical events. These deceptions culminated in his expulsion from Congress before his criminal case was resolved.

Judge Joanna Seybert, while acknowledging Santos's remorseful demeanor, doubted his repentance due to his failure to pay restitution and his continued extravagant lifestyle, ultimately siding with prosecutors who recommended a lengthy sentence to deter further criminality.

Santos's conviction came after an ethics investigation found he misappropriated campaign funds for personal luxury expenses, leading to a rare bipartisan effort to expel him from Congress, marking a significant political and personal downfall.

Despite his adherence to former President Trump's politics, Santos has not received any indication of a presidential pardon, and his ongoing claims of political victimization contrast with his earlier guilty plea admissions.

Prosecutors argued that Santos's persistent lying and social media behavior demonstrated a lack of genuine remorse, while his defense highlighted his damaged reputation and lack of job prospects as part of his punishment.

His case has drawn public and political attention, with former acquaintances expressing skepticism about his sincerity and viewing his sentencing as a justified consequence of his fraudulent conduct.