Disgraced former Congressman George Santos requested a choose on Friday to delay his sentencing in his federal fraud case.
Santos is at the moment scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 7 in Central Islip, New York, after pleading responsible to federal fraud, marketing campaign finance and embezzlement expenses.
His attorneys requested the choose to postpone the sentencing by six months, till August, to provide Santos extra time to earn money so he can meet the almost $600,000 he owes in restitution and forfeiture, based on a brand new court docket submitting.
“Mr. Santos now has a viable path to creating significant progress on satisfying his obligations,” his legal professionals said 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, they’d not. Santos conceded he was making an attempt to satisfy the fundraising threshold to qualify for monetary assist from the Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee.
He advised reporters on the time that the responsible plea was the “proper factor to do.”
“This plea isn’t just an request for forgiveness,” Santos mentioned. “It is an acknowledgment that I have to be held accountable like some other American that breaks the regulation.”
Santos additionally stipulated that he dedicated different fraud, together with charging donor bank cards with out authorization and convincing donors to provide 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 an announcement to the court docket 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 closing 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 components of Queens and Nassau counties, starting in January 2023, earlier than being expelled from Congress on Dec. 1, 2023.
