Rep. George Santos Indicted On 13 Federal Charges

New York Republican Rep. George Santos has been indicted on 13 federal charges in New York that include wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and false statements to the House of Representatives.

U.S. Attorney Breon Peace announced the charges Wednesday and released an unsealed grand jury indictment from the Eastern District of New York against the first-term representative for parts of Queens and Long Island.

The indictment also includes allegations that Santos fraudulently redirected campaign donations to his own accounts and falsely applied for unemployment benefits.

“This indictment seeks to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations,” Peace said in a news release.

Santos, who surrendered to federal law enforcement, pleaded not guilty at a hearing Wednesday. He was released on a $500,000 bond and will next appear before the judge on June 30, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

The indictment alleges that Santos defrauded two individuals of $25,000 each in donations he said were meant to support his political campaign but were instead funneled to personal accounts. Santos then used those funds for personal expenses, including paying debts and purchasing designer clothes, the indictment said.

Additionally, the indictment alleges that Santos falsely applied for and received unemployment benefits while he was still working at an investment firm in 2020. Santos received more than $24,000 in unemployment benefits while he was still employed, the indictment said.

The indictment also alleges that Santos made false statements tied to his failed 2020 campaign for office as part of federally required House disclosures. In those disclosures, Santos hid more than $25,000 in income he received from an investment firm, instead saying it came from another company, the indictment states.

Then in 2022, Santos allegedly inflated his income from Devolder Organization LLC, which he stated was $750,000 and unearned income of between $1 million and $5 million, the indictment states. His income at the time, however, was $28,107 from an investment firm and $20,304 in unemployment benefits.

If convicted of the wire fraud and other charges, Santos faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

 

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