Former US congressman gets over 7 years' jail for stealing campaign funds

Former US Representative George Santos, a one-time rising Republican star who falsely claimed to have worked for Goldman Sachs before running for Congress, was ordered to serve seven years and three months in prison for stealing campaign funds.

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NEW YORK -

Santos, 36, was sentenced on April 25 in Central Islip, New York, by US District Judge Joanna Seybert, who called his crimes "flagrant thievery".

The 87-month prison term matched a recommendation by federal prosecutors. A lawyer for Santos asked for two years. The judge told Santos to surrender to federal custody by July 25.

The former lawmaker, who wiped away tears as he was sentenced, was in Congress for less than a year. He was expelled after a US House ethics probe substantiated allegations of theft and deceit.

Prosecutors initially charged Santos with 23 counts of wire fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds. He pleaded guilty in August to two counts of wire fraud and identity theft just weeks before his trial.

As part of his plea agreement, Santos confessed to taking part in a wide range of conduct, including filing bogus reports with the Federal Election Commission, embezzling campaign funds, charging credit cards without authorization and fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits.