Former New York GOP Representative George Santos faces up to 87 months in prison following his guilty plea to federal fraud and identity theft charges. The 36-year-old was ousted from Congress in 2023 and subsequently indicted on 23 counts including wire fraud, identity theft, and record falsification. Despite pleading guilty to deceiving donors and stealing identities to fund his campaign, Santos contends that the prosecution's request for a lengthy sentence is excessive and an overreach. His legal team requested a two-year sentence, arguing against the penalty's severity, while prosecutors cite his recent unrepentant social media behavior as justification for a harsher sentence. Santos, who falsely claimed impressive academic and professional credentials during his campaign, has expressed remorse but continues to challenge the prosecutorial approach as unfair.

George Santos, a former GOP congressman from New York, is facing up to 87 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal fraud and identity theft charges, which include wire fraud, identity theft, and other serious offenses.

Santos was ousted from Congress in 2023 before he was convicted of any crime, but he was later indicted on 23 charges, including falsification of records and credit card fraud, as part of a broader federal investigation.

As part of his plea deal, Santos confessed to deceiving donors and stealing identities to finance his congressional campaign, and has agreed to pay nearly $600,000 in penalties, acknowledging his criminal conduct.

The prosecution is pushing for an 87-month sentence, citing Santos's lack of remorse and recent social media activity as evidence of his continued unrepentant attitude, which they argue justifies a severe penalty.

Santos's legal team is arguing for a reduced two-year sentence, claiming the prosecution's demands are extreme, while Santos himself has written to the court expressing regret for his actions but also criticizing what he sees as prosecutorial overreach.

During his campaign, Santos made numerous false claims about his education and employment history, asserting ties to institutions such as New York University and Goldman Sachs, and falsely claiming his grandparents fled the Nazis during World War II.

Despite his legal troubles, Santos attempted to revive his political career by running as an Independent in a nearby district, though this effort was short-lived and ultimately unsuccessful.