George Santos (fraud)
Former congressman George Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He had fabricated virtually his entire biography and stolen donor funds. He was sentenced to prison.
George Santos was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 3rd district in 2022 after fabricating virtually his entire life story—his education, work history, religion, and family background.
Santos lied about graduating from Baruch College and NYU, working at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, being Jewish with grandparents who fled the Holocaust, and founding a charity for animal rescue.
He was indicted on 23 federal charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and stealing public funds. He was expelled from Congress in December 2023—only the sixth member in history.
Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in early 2025. He admitted to defrauding campaign donors and using their money for personal expenses including designer goods.
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