Disgraced former Congressman George Santos requested a choose on Friday to delay his sentencing in his federal fraud case.
Santos is presently scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 7 in Central Islip, New York, after pleading guilty to federal fraud, marketing campaign finance and embezzlement costs.
His attorneys requested the choose to postpone the sentencing by six months, till August, to offer Santos extra time to generate profits so he can meet the almost $600,000 he owes in restitution and forfeiture, in line with a brand new courtroom submitting.
“Mr. Santos now has a viable path to creating significant progress on satisfying his obligations,” his legal professionals acknowledged in a movement filed on Friday, citing the launch of a brand new podcast, “Pants on Fireplace with George Santos.”
Federal prosecutors didn’t instantly reply, although the protection famous that the federal government opposes a delay.
On this Aug. 19, 2024, file photograph, George Santos, who was expelled from the U.S. Home of Representatives, arrives for his corruption trial at Central Islip Federal Courthouse in Central Islip, New York.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters, FILE
The previous New York consultant pleaded responsible in August to claiming family members had made contributions to his marketing campaign when, actually, that they had not. Santos conceded he was attempting to fulfill the fundraising threshold to qualify for monetary assist from the Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee.
He instructed reporters on the time that the responsible plea was the “proper factor to do.”
“This plea is not only an act of contrition,” Santos mentioned. “It is an acknowledgment that I must be held accountable like another American that breaks the legislation.”
Santos additionally stipulated that he dedicated different fraud, together with charging donor bank cards with out authorization and convincing donors to offer cash by falsely stating the cash could be used for TV advertisements. He additionally stipulated he stole public cash by making use of for and receiving unemployment advantages throughout the pandemic to which he was not entitled.
Santos conceded in a press release to the courtroom his actions “betrayed” his constituents and others.
He faces a sentence of 75-87 months, together with a compulsory minimal two-year sentence for aggravated identification theft.
He additionally should pay restitution of almost $374,000 and forfeiture of greater than $200,000.
Santos’ legal professionals flagged within the last moments of his plea listening to on Aug. 19 that the previous congressman could not be capable to pay over $200,000 in restitution.
He’s required to pay the restitution 30 days earlier than his sentencing on Feb. 7 and will face extra sanctions if he fails to pay in time.
Santos represented New York’s third Congressional District, which incorporates elements of Queens and Nassau counties, starting in January 2023, earlier than being expelled from Congress on Dec. 1, 2023.
