Former Representative George Santos from New York, expelled from Congress after facing 23 federal indictments for various forms of fraud and misuse of campaign funds, entered a guilty plea on Monday in federal court for two of those charges.

The Long Island Republican is now facing a minimum of two years in prison following his guilty plea to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. However, Judge Joanna Seybert suggested he may serve between six to eight years when he is sentenced on February 7, 2025. Santos has also been ordered to pay nearly $374,000 in restitution and forfeit $205,000.

He was originally scheduled to go to trial in September on multiple charges, including using campaign funds for personal expenses, unauthorized credit card charges on donors’ accounts, and collecting unemployment benefits while being employed.

In court, Santos stated, “I deeply regret my conduct and the harm it has caused and accept full responsibility for my actions,” his voice quivering.

The prosecutors stated that Santos finally told the truth about his criminal activities, seemingly for the first time since he began his congressional campaign.

“He admitted to lying, stealing, and deceiving people,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace in a statement. “His blatant and disgraceful actions have been revealed and will be punished.”

FBI New York field office’s acting assistant director, Christie Curtis, commented that when elected officials prioritize their selfish interests over those they represent, it erodes public trust in the government.

“Today, George Santos acknowledged that he indeed lied, cheated, and stole his way into public office,” Curtis stated.

In December, the House voted 311-114 to expel Santos following findings by the House Ethics Committee that he had significantly mishandled campaign funds to buy Botox and luxury clothing brands like Hermes and committed various federal offenses. Some lawmakers expressed concerns about excluding Santos prior to his conviction.

“In the future, I am committed to rectifying the wrongs I have done,” Santos told the media outside the courthouse. “This plea is not only an admission of guilt but also a recognition that I must be held accountable, just like any other citizen who violates the law.”

Santos has been a controversial figure since becoming a Republican freshman in Congress in January 2023 after flipping a seat in the New York City suburbs. He was found to have falsified parts of his resume, claiming he had worked at Goldman Sachs and that his grandmother was a Holocaust survivor.

The charges against him included wire fraud, making false statements to the Federal Election Commission, record falsification, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, and lying to the House.

“As alleged, Santos is charged with stealing identities and making unauthorized charges on his donors’ credit cards, lying to the Federal Election Commission, and misleading the public about his campaign’s financial status,” said Peace at the time of the indictment. “Santos improperly inflated the reported income of his campaign with fabricated loans and donations that were either fraudulent or stolen.”