Court filing
Superseding Indictment — United States v. Santos (Dkt. 50, E.D.N.Y.)
Summary
The superseding indictment filed October 10, 2023 in the Eastern District of New York charges George Anthony Devolder Santos, elected in 2022 as the Representative for New York’s Third Congressional District, in counts One through Twenty-Three. The grand jury charges that Santos and Nancy Marks, the treasurer of the Santos campaign committee, reported contributions that were never made and a $500,000 loan Santos had not made, so that the committee would appear to clear the $250,000 quarterly threshold of a national party committee’s program. Count Nineteen charges theft of public money: Santos applied for New York unemployment benefits on June 17, 2020 while a Regional Director at Investment Firm #1, and received approximately $24,744. Other counts charge unauthorized charges to contributors’ credit cards, wire fraud through Company #1 and false House financial disclosures.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Filed October 10, 2023 in George Anthony Devolder Santos; one of 2 filings from this case.
Record facts
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York |
|---|---|
| Filed | 2023-10-10 |
Cite this document
“Superseding Indictment — United States v. Santos (Dkt. 50, E.D.N.Y.).”
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, No. 2:23-cr-00197, Doc. 50, filed 2023-10-10. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/court-filings/full-docket-george-anthony-devolder-santos-nyed-497085/2023-10-10-gov-uscourts-nyed-497085-50-0-doc-50/
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Case 2:23-cr-00197-JS-AYS Document 50
RCH:AXB/LZ
F. #2022R01030
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- against -
GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER
SANTOS,
also known as “George Santos,”
Defendant.
THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:
Filed 10/10/23 Page 1 of 42 PagelD #: 319
FILED
IN CLERK'S OFFICE
U.S. DISTRICT COURT E.D.NY.
* 0CT 10203
LONG ISLAND OFFICE
SUPERSEDING
INDICTMENT
Cr. No. 23-197 (S-1) (JS) (AYS)
(T. 18, U.S.C., §§ 371, 641, 981(a)(1)(C),
982(a)(1), 982(a)(2)(B), 982(b)(1),
1001(a)(2), 1001(c)(1), 1028A(a)(1),
1028A(b), 1028A(c)(4), 1028A(c)(5),
1029(a)(5), 1029(c)(1)(A)(ii), 1343,
1519, 1957(a), 1957(b), 2 and 3551 et
seq.; T. 21, U.S.C., § 853(p); T. 28,
U.S.C., § 2461(c))
INTRODUCTION TO ALL COUNTS
At all times relevant to this Superseding Indictment, unless otherwise indicated:
I. Relevant Individuals and Entities
I. The defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also
known as “George Santos,” was a resident of Queens and Suffolk Counties. During the 2020
and 2022 election cycles, DEVOLDER SANTOS campaigned as a candidate for the United
States House of Representatives (the “House”). On or about November 8, 2022, DEVOLDER
SANTOS was elected the United States Representative for New York’s Third Congressional
District, which covered parts of Queens and Nassau Counties in the Eastern District of New
York. DEVOLDER SANTOS was sworn into office on or about January 7, 2023.
2. Devolder-Santos for Congress (the “Committee”) was the defendant
GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS’s principal congressional campaign committee.
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3. Nancy Marks was the treasurer of the Committee. Marks provided
additional services to the Committee through a political consulting company that she operated
and which was located in Suffolk County, New York.
4, National Party Committee #1, an entity the identity of which is known to
the Grand Jury, was a national party committee headquartered in Washington, D.C. National
Party Committee #1 managed a program (the “Program”) pursuant to which National Party
Committee #1 provided financial and logistical support for congressional candidates who
qualified for the Program. The Program had three phases, each with its own qualifying criteria.
To qualify for the second phase of the Program, congressional candidates were required, among
other things, to demonstrate that their campaign committee had raised at least $250,000 from
third-party contributors in a single quarter.
5. The Devolder Organization LLC was a Florida Limited Liability
Company (“LLC”) formed on or about May 11, 2021, with its principal place of business in
Melbourne, Florida. The defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS was the sole
beneficial owner of the Devolder Organization LLC.
6. Company #1, an entity the identity of which is known to the Grand Jury,
was a Florida LLC formed on or about November |, 2021, with its principal place of business in
Merritt Island, Florida. At the time of its organization, Company #1 had two authorized
managers, one of which was the Devolder Organization LLC.
7, Person #1, an individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury, was a
political consultant operating in Queens County and surrounding areas, including areas within
the Eastern District of New York. In or about and between September 2022 and October 2022,
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at the direction of the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, Person #1 acted
on behalf of Company #1.
8. Investment Firm #1, an entity the identity of which is known to the Grand
Jury, was a Nevada corporation with its principal place of business in Melbourne, Florida.
Investment Firm #1 was purportedly engaged in retail sales of securities products. In or about
and between January 2020 and March 31, 2021, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS was employed by Investment Firm #1 as a Regional Director. In that
capacity, DEVOLDER SANTOS received an annual salary of approximately $120,000, which
was deposited into a personal bank account maintained by DEVOLDER SANTOS (“Devolder
Santos Bank Account #1”) in regular intervals beginning on or about February 3, 2020 and
continuing through on or about April 15, 2021.
Il. Applicable Campaign Finance Laws
9. The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, Title 52, United
States Code § 30101, et seq. (the “Election Act”), limited financial influence in the election of
candidates for federal office and provided for public disclosure of the financing of federal
election campaigns. The Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) was an agency of the United
States entrusted with the responsibility of administering and enforcing the Election Act. To
deter abuses and instill public confidence in the election process, the FEC was responsible for
receiving and making available to the public specific, accurate information about, among other
things, the amounts and sources of political contributions to federal candidates and political
committees.
10. The Election Act prohibited a federal candidate or an agent of a federal
candidate from soliciting, receiving, directing or transferring funds in connection with a federal
Case 2:23-cr-00197-JS-AYS Document 50 Filed 10/10/23 Page 4 of 42 PagelD #: 322
election unless the funds were subject to the limitations, prohibitions and reporting requirements
of the Election Act.
Il. | The Election Act limited the amount and sources of money that could be
contributed to a federal candidate or a federal candidate’s authorized campaign committee and
political committees established and maintained by a national political party. In particular,
while candidates for federal office were permitted to give or loan their own campaigns unlimited
sums of money, for the 2022 election cycle, other individuals were limited to contributing $2,900
per primary election per candidate committee and $2,900 per general election per candidate
committee.
12. The Election Act prohibited a person from making a political contribution
in the name of another person, including by giving funds to a “straw” or “conduit” contributor
for the purpose of having the straw donor or conduit pass the funds on to a federal candidate as
his or her own contribution. The Election Act expressly provided that contributions made
through an intermediary were treated as contributions from the original source. The Election
Act also prohibited a person from knowingly permitting his name to be used to effect such a
conduit contribution.
13. Pursuant to the Election Act, the FEC required authorized campaign
committees, such as the Committee, to file periodic reports of receipts and disbursements
identifying, among other things, each person or organization that made a contribution to such
committee during the relevant reporting period whose contribution or contributions had an
aggregate amount or value in excess of $200 within the election cycle, together with the date and
the amount of any such contribution. The Election Act and the FEC also required every person
or organization that was not a political committee and that made independent expenditures in
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excess of $250 with respect to a given election in a calendar year to report those expenditures, to
identify each person or organization who made a contribution in excess of $200 to further the
reported independent expenditures, and to certify under penalty of perjury that the expenditure
was not made in cooperation, consultation or in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a
candidate, a candidate’s authorized committee or their agents. These periodic reports, which
were filed with the FEC for the FEC to make publicly available, were intended to provide the
public with a record of all contributions to candidates for federal office in an effort to combat
quid pro quo corruption or the appearance of quid pro quo corruption. As such, they constituted
the public’s primary window into the sources of funding for federal election campaigns.
14. | An independent expenditure-only committee, or “Super PAC,” was a type
of political committee that could accept unlimited contributions and make unlimited
expenditures independent of a candidate or campaign. Super PACs were prohibited from
making contributions to candidates in the form of coordinated expenditures. Super PACs were
required to register with the FEC within 10 days of receiving contributions or making
expenditures aggregating more than $1,000 during a calendar year.
Ill. The Defendant’s Campaign-Related Fraudulent Schemes
15. | During the 2022 election cycle, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS devised and executed at least three fraudulent schemes to obtain money
for himself and for the Committee by making various material misrepresentations and omissions
to, among others, the FEC, National Party Committee #1, potential contributors to the
Committee and the public.
16. First, in or about and between December 2021 and November 2022, the
defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS and Nancy Marks devised and
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executed a scheme to submit materially false reports to the FEC on behalf of the Committee in
which they fraudulently inflated the Committee’s fundraising numbers for the purpose of
misleading the FEC, National Party Committee #1 and the public. The purpose of the scheme
was to qualify DEVOLDER SANTOS for different phases of the Program and thereby receive
financial and logistical support from National Party Committee #1 (the “Party Program
Scheme”). As part of the Party Program Scheme, DEVOLDER SANTOS and Marks agreed to
falsely report to the FEC that family members of DEVOLDER SANTOS and Marks had made
significant financial contributions to the Committee, when DEVOLDER SANTOS and Marks
both knew that these individuals had not made the reported contributions. Further, as part of the
Party Program Scheme, DEVOLDER SANTOS and Marks agreed to falsely report to the FEC
that DEVOLDER SANTOS had loaned the Committee significant sums of money, when
DEVOLDER SANTOS had not made the reported loans and, in fact, did not have the funds
necessary to make such loans at the time.
17. Second, in or about and between December 2021 and August 2022, the
defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS devised and executed a fraudulent
scheme whereby he stole personal identity and financial information of individuals who had
contributed to the Committee and used it to cause these individuals’ credit cards to be charged
repeatedly without authorization (the “Credit Card Fraud Scheme”). Through these
unauthorized transactions, DEVOLDER SANTOS transferred funds to the Committee, to the
campaigns of other candidates for elected office and to his personal bank account. Further, for
the purpose of concealing the true source of funds and circumventing campaign contribution
limits, DEVOLDER SANTOS falsely represented that the political contributions were made by
other individuals, such as DEVOLDER SANTOS’s relatives and associates.
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18. Third, in or about and between September and October 2022, the
defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS devised and executed a scheme to
defraud and to obtain money from supporters of his candidacy for the House by fraudulently
inducing them to contribute funds to Company #1 under the false pretense that the money would
be used to support DEVOLDER SANTOS’s candidacy. In truth, DEVOLDER SANTOS spent
thousands of dollars of the solicited funds on personal expenses, including luxury designer
clothing and credit card payments (the “Company #1 Fraud Scheme”). DEVOLDER SANTOS
personally and through Person #1 communicated false information about Company #1 to those
supporters, including that Company #1 was a Section 501(c)(4) social welfare organization or an
independent expenditure-only committee and that contributions made to Company #1 would be
used on independent expenditures in support of DEVOLDER SANTOS’s candidacy during the
2022 election cycle. In actuality, Company #1 was neither a Section 501(c)(4) social welfare
organization nor an independent expenditure-only committee, and upon receipt of contributions
by those supporters to Company #1, DEVOLDER SANTOS converted much of those funds to
his own personal benefit.
A. The Party Program Scheme
19. Throughout 2021, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER
SANTOS and Nancy Marks sought for the Committee to report fundraising totals sufficient to
meet the $250,000 threshold necessary to qualify for the second phase of the Program. For
example, on or about April 1, 2021, Marks emailed the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS and other agents of the Committee, stating, “Our goal is to go higher
each quarter so as everyone is aware, it is to make [the Program].”
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20. For the third quarter of 2021, the Committee failed to qualify for the
Program due, in part, to its failure to report $250,000 in contributions from third-party
contributors in the quarter.
21. Onor about October 12, 2021, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS sent a text message to agents of the Committee, including Nancy Marks,
asking an agent to “check in with” an employee of National Party Committee #1 to determine
why the Committee failed to qualify for the Program. An agent of the Committee responded to
DEVOLDER SANTOS that “the only driver that matters is raising $250K (not loans or
candidate contributions) in a single quarter,” and “[i]t’s really that simple though... $250K raised
from donors within a quarter. We haven’t done that yet and that should be our focus.”
DEVOLDER SANTOS replied, “We are going to do this a little different. I got it.”
i. Fraudulent Year-End 2021 Report
22. In or about and between December 2021 and January 2022, the defendant
GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS and Nancy Marks conspired and agreed to
falsely inflate the Committee’s fundraising totals, including, but not limited to, in public filings
with the FEC, in order to mislead the FEC, Nationa! Party Committee #1 and the public so that
DEVOLDER SANTOS would qualify for the Program and receive financial and logistical
support from National Party Committee #1.
23. In furtherance of that scheme to defraud, on or about December 18, 2021,
the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS texted Nancy Marks a list of the
names of family members of DEVOLDER SANTOS and Marks, along with purported
contribution amounts for each corresponding family member, for Marks to enter into the Year-
End 2021 Report to the FEC for the purpose of ensuring that the Committee appeared to reach
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the $250,000 threshold necessary to qualify for the second phase of the Program. Contrary to
the representations made by DEVOLDER SANTOS, none of the family members of
DEVOLDER SANTOS and Marks had made, or ever did make, the listed contributions.
24. Specifically, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER
SANTOS’s text message to Nancy Marks on or about December 18, 2021 falsely stated the
following non-existent contributions to the Committee: (a) a $5,800 contribution from
Contributor #1, an individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury; (b) a $5,800
contribution from Contributor #2, an individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury; (c) a
$5,800 contribution from Contributor #3, an individual whose identity is known to the Grand
Jury; (d) a $5,800 contribution from Contributor #4, an individual whose identity is known to the
Grand Jury; (e) a $5,800 contribution from Contributor #5, an individual whose identity is
known to the Grand Jury; (f) a $5,800 contribution from Contributor #6, an individual whose
identity is known to the Grand Jury; (g) a $5,800 contribution from Contributor #7, an individual
whose identity is known to the Grand Jury; (h) a $5,800 contribution from Contributor #8, an
individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury; (i) a $5,800 contribution from Contributor
#9, an individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury; and (j) a $2,900 contribution from
Contributor #10, an individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury. DEVOLDER
SANTOS also texted Marks: “These are the donations we spoke about last night before we went
to sleep. Total of $55,100. Let’s talk Monday in person.”
25. On or about December 21, 2021, after Nancy Marks texted the defendant
GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS seeking the “list of donors — your family,”
DEVOLDER SANTOS again texted Marks the names and purported contribution amounts of
Contributor #1, Contributor #2, Contributor #3, Contributor #4, Contributor #5, Contributor #6,
Case 2:23-cr-00197-JS-AYS Document 50 Filed 10/10/23 Page 10 of 42 PagelD #: 328
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Contributor #7, Contributor #8, Contributor #9 and Contributor #10. This time, DEVOLDER
SANTOS also included addresses and occupations for his relatives — information that
DEVOLDER SANTOS knew would be required for the Year-End 2021 Report to the FEC.
That same day, Marks emailed herself the content of this text message.
26. In or about January 2022, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS repeatedly texted Nancy Marks about ensuring that the Committee
reached the $250,000 threshold necessary to qualify for the second phase of the Program.
DEVOLDER SANTOS advised Marks that he “really would like to know the final numbers for
the quarter.” On or about January 31, 2022, DEVOLDER SANTOS asked Marks “what did we
figure out about the report,” and expressed that he was “lost and desperate.”
27. On or about January 31, 2022, the Committee submitted the Year-End
2021 Report to the FEC, with Nancy Marks certifying that she had “examined this Report and to
the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete.” The Year-End 2021
Report to the FEC falsely reported the following contributions to the FEC:
Contributor # | Amount Reported Date
l $5,800 12/31/21
2 $2,900 12/31/21
3 $5,800 12/31/21
4 $2,900 12/31/21
5 $5,800 12/16/21
6 $5,800 11/15/21
7 $5,800 12/31/21
8 $5,800 12/31/21
9 $5,800 11/3/21
10 $3,900 10/9/21
28. The Year-End 2021 Report further falsely reported a contribution of
$2,900 from another family member of Nancy Marks, Contributor #11, an individual whose
identity is known to the Grand Jury. These falsely reported contributions contained in the Year-
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End 2021 Report to the FEC totaled $53,200, causing the Committee to falsely claim total
quarterly receipts of $251,549.68 and thereby surpass the $250,000 threshold necessary to
qualify for the second phase of the Program. The defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS and Marks knew that none of these reported contributions were true.
ii. The Defendant Qualifies for the Second Phase of the Program
29. Following the submission of the fraudulent Year-End 2021 Report to the
FEC, on or about February 10, 2022, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER
SANTOS signed an application for the Program and caused it to be submitted to National Party
Committee #1. The application noted that candidates accepted into the Program would be
eligible for “additional campaign financial support,” such as “hybrid ads, coordinated
expenditures, focus groups, splitting the cost of polling, etc.” DEVOLDER SANTOS also
submitted a biography falsely asserting, among other things, that he had worked for several
prominent Wall Street financial institutions.
30. On or about February 23, 2022, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS texted Nancy Marks, “I GOT [THE PROGRAM]!”
31. Based, in part, on its belief that the Committee had exceeded the $250,000
quarterly fundraising benchmark as reported in the Year-End 2021 Report to the FEC, National
Party Committee #1 announced the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS as
a candidate in the second phase of the Program on or about February 25, 2022.
iil. Fraudulent April 2022 Quarterly Report
32. In or about and between March and April 2022, the defendant GEORGE
ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS and Nancy Marks continued their efforts to falsely inflate
the Committee’s fundraising totals, including, but not limited to, in public filings with the FEC,
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in order to mislead the FEC, National Party Committee #1, and the public so that DEVOLDER
SANTOS would qualify for all phases of the Program and receive financial and logistical support
from National Party Committee #1. DEVOLDER SANTOS and Marks agreed to falsely
represent in presentations and communications with National Party Committee #1 and ina
quarterly submission to the FEC that DEVOLDER SANTOS had loaned the Committee
$500,000, when, in fact, he had not.
33. In approximately March 2022, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS continued to express concern with ensuring that the Committee reported
favorable fundraising totals in the first quarter of 2022. For example, on or about March 7,
2022, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS texted an associate, “] have
my back against the wall this quarter lol.”
34, Similarly, on or about March 15, 2022, the defendant GEORGE
ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS texted another associate about the importance of the
Committee reporting substantial fundraising totals for the purpose of ensuring he qualified for
the Program and would receive the expected financial support from National Party Committee
#1, stating: “I have a very important meeting at the end of this week with [National Party
Committee #1]. This meeting will decide if they will invest in my race & so we need to come in
with very strong fundraising numbers. There are several million dollars on the line with this,
and having your name as a contributor to my campaign would be a very great help.”
35. On or about March 21, 2022, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS caused agents of the Committee to deliver a “Path to Victory”
presentation to National Party Committee #1, which falsely represented to National Party
Committee #1 staff members that DEVOLDER SANTOS was loaning the Committee $500,000
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during the first quarter of 2022. Further, the presentation listed as a “Key Factor’? DEVOLDER
SANTOS’s “[p]ersonal and political capital that will allow for a fully-funded operation.”
36. When agents of the Committee inquired, the defendant GEORGE
ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS falsely represented that he was, in fact, making the
purported $500,000 loan to the Committee. For example, on or about March 30, 2022, an agent
of the Committee texted DEVOLDER SANTOS: “Random: Did you get the wire done for the
Q1 loan?” DEVOLDER SANTOS responded: “That’s getting done tomorrow and it’s not a
wire, banker check.” However, DEVOLDER SANTOS did not provide the Committee with a
check for the purported $500,000 loan, nor did he wire transfer such funds at that time.
Moreover, at that time, DEVOLDER SANTOS did not have the funds to cover sucha loan. In
truth, DEVOLDER SANTOS had less than $8,000 in his personal and business bank accounts.
37. On or about April 13, 2022, the Committee further publicized inaccurate
fundraising totals for the Committee for the first quarter of 2022, relying on the false
representation by the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS that he had
loaned the Committee $500,000. Specifically, the Committee issued a press release in which it
stated that the Committee would “report roughly $800,000 raised in QI, a significant sum in
what is likely to be one of the most expensive races in the country.” This statement of the
fundraising totals of the Committee included the non-existent $500,000 loan purportedly made
by DEVOLDER SANTOS. The press release further reported that DEVOLDER SANTOS had
qualified for the second phase of the Program by National Party Committee #1, “a sign of
national [political party’s] growing interest and belief in the competitiveness of this seat.”
38. On or about April 15, 2022, the Committee submitted the April 2022
Quarterly Report to the FEC, with Nancy Marks certifying that she had “examined this Report
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and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete.” The April 2022
Quarterly Report to the FEC falsely reported that DEVOLDER SANTOS had loaned the
Committee $500,000 on March 31, 2022. DEVOLDER SANTOS and Nancy Marks did so for
the purpose of making the Committee appear more financially sound than it was, knowing that
the FEC, National Party Committee #1 and the public would rely on the truth and accuracy of
these reports.
iv. National Party Committee #1 Provides Financial Support to the
Committee
39. Based, in part, on the misrepresentations made by the defendant GEORGE
ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS and Nancy Marks about the financial position of the
Committee in its reports to the FEC, presentations to National Party Committee #1 and public
statements, National Party Committee #1 announced that DEVOLDER SANTOS had qualified
for the third and final phase of the Program on or about June 14, 2022.
40. As aresult of the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER
SANTOS’s qualification for the third and final phase of the Program, National Party Committee
#1 provided financial and logistical support to the Committee.
41. For example, on or about September 27, 2022, National Party Committee
#1 and the Committee agreed to split the cost of a political poll, financial assistance that the
defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS knew to be a benefit derived from his
qualification for the third and final phase the Program.
42. Similarly, qualification for the third and final phase of the Program
entitled the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS to participate in joint
fundraising committees with other qualified members of the Program. On or about September
28, 2022, the Committee and another political committee affiliated with DEVOLDER SANTOS
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received wire transfers from a joint fundraising committee for qualified members of the Program.
On or about October 18, 2022, the Committee and another political committee affiliated with
DEVOLDER SANTOS received a second round of wire transfers from a joint fundraising
committee for qualified members of the Program.
B. The Credit Card Fraud Scheme
43. As part of the Credit Card Fraud Scheme, the defendant GEORGE
ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS obtained the personal identity and financial information of
individuals who had contributed to the Committee and then caused their access devices to be
charged repeatedly without authorization for DEVOLDER SANTOS’s direct and indirect
benefit, oftentimes concealing the true source of the funds by misappropriating the personal
identity information of relatives and associates of DEVOLDER SANTOS without their
authorization.
44, For example, on or about December 14, 2021, Contributor #12, an
individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury, texted the defendant GEORGE
ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS and another agent of the Committee, providing billing
information for two credit cards belonging to Contributor #12 for the purpose of authorizing a
contribution to the Committee. Thereafter, on or about December 17, 2021, DEVOLDER
SANTOS caused a $5,800 contribution to be made to the Committee using the credit card billing
information provided by Contributor #12. That same day, DEVOLDER SANTOS caused two
other contributions to be made to the Committee or affiliated political committees using the
credit card billing information provided by Contributor #12.
45. As a result, DEVOLDER SANTOS caused approximately $15,800 in
campaign contributions to the Committee or affiliated political committees to be charged to the
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credit cards of Contributor #12 on or about December 17, 2021. This total exceeded the limits
set by the Election Act for the 2022 election cycle for individual contributions to candidate
committees. Contributor #12 did not know of or authorize charges exceeding such limits. For
the purpose of masking the true source of some of these funds and thereby circumventing the
Election Act’s limits on the amount and sources of money that could be contributed to a federal
candidate for elected office, DEVOLDER SANTOS falsely identified the source of the funds for
one of these unauthorized charges to be a relative of DEVOLDER SANTOS, Person #2, an
individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury. Asa result of DEVOLDER SANTOS’s
fraudulent deception, the Committee submitted the Year-End 2021 Report to the FEC on or
about January 31, 2022, which falsely identified Person #2 as the source of the funds for a
$2,400 contribution and a $2,600 contribution, both made on December 17, 2021.
46. In the following months, without the knowledge or authorization of
Contributor #12, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS repeatedly used
the credit card billing information of Contributor #12 in attempts to make at least $44,800 in
unauthorized charges. DEVOLDER SANTOS attempted to use the credit card billing
information of Contributor #12 to make contributions to the Committee and to the campaign
committees of other candidates for elected office in the names of, among others:
(a) DEVOLDER SANTOS himself; (b) Person #2; (c) Person #3, an individual whose identity is
known to the Grand Jury; and (d) Person #4, an individual whose identity is known to the Grand
Jury.
47. On at least one occasion, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS used the credit card billing information for Contributor #12 to transfer
more than $11,000 to DEVOLDER SANTOS’s personal bank account, again without the
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knowledge or authorization of Contributor #12. On or about August |, 2022, DEVOLDER
SANTOS used the credit card billing information for Contributor #12 to cause a charge of
$12,000, using the credit card processing account of Company #1. Of that sum, approximately
$11,651.70 was transferred to the bank account of Company #1. That same day, approximately
$11,580 was then transferred from the bank account of Company #1 to the personal bank account
of DEVOLDER SANTOS.
48. In addition to Contributor #12, DEVOLDER SANTOS used the credit
card billing information of other individuals to contribute to the Committee and to the campaigns
of other candidates for elected office, all without the knowledge or authorization of the
individual cardholders. Again, in an effort to mask the true source of the funds and to
circumvent the Election Act’s limits on individual contributions, DEVOLDER SANTOS
repeatedly masked those fraudulent transactions by using the names of other unwitting
individuals, including individuals who had previously contributed to his campaign and his own
relatives, among others.
C. The Company #1 Fraud Scheme
49. As part of the Company #1 Fraud Scheme, the defendant GEORGE
ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS directed Person #1 to solicit contributions to Company #1
from prospective contributors via emails, text messages and telephone calls. In furtherance of
those efforts, DEVOLDER SANTOS arranged for the creation of an email address associated
with Company #1 for Person #1, provided Person #1 with the names and contact information of
prospective contributors and conveyed false information to Person #1 about the nature of
Company #1 and the purpose of the contributions, knowing that Person #1 would then
communicate the false information to prospective contributors.
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50. At the direction of the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER
SANTOS, Person #1 falsely advised prospective contributors, inter alia, that Company #1 was a
Section 501(c)(4) social welfare organization or an independent expenditure-only committee and
therefore not subject to contribution limits, and that contributions to Company #1 would be spent
on television advertisements and other independent expenditures benefitting DEVOLDER
SANTOS’s candidacy for the House. At the direction of DEVOLDER SANTOS, Person #1
also provided prospective contributors with instructions for wiring funds to a bank account
maintained by Company #1, as to which DEVOLDER SANTOS was an authorized signatory
(“Company #1 Bank Account”).
51. Jt was further a part of the scheme to defraud that the defendant GEORGE
ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS sent to prospective contributors one or more text messages
in which he requested that those prospective contributors speak with representatives of Company
#1, indicated that he needed contributions to Company #1 and falsely represented that such
contributions would be spent on television advertisements independently purchased by Company
#1 in support of DEVOLDER SANTOS’s candidacy for the House.
52. After receiving emails and text messages from the defendant GEORGE
ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS and Person #1, and in reliance upon the materially false
statements therein, one or more individuals made contributions to Company #1 in sums
exceeding the limits pertaining to candidate committees.
53. On or about September 12, 2022, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS falsely advised Person #1 via text message that Company #1 was “a
small C4” that existed “just to help this race” and that there were “no limits” with respect to
contributions. Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code related to tax-exempt social
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welfare organizations. DEVOLDER SANTOS knew that Company #1 was not, in fact,
registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a Section 501(c)(4) social welfare organization.
54. On or about October 4, 2022, Person #1, acting at the direction of the
defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS and on behalf of Company #1, sent an
email to Contributor #13, an individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury. That email
falsely stated, inter alia, that Company #1 was attempting to “raise another $700,000 dollars to
reach our goal of $1.5 million to invest in [DEVOLDER SANTOS’s] race” to compete with the
money “independently” raised for DEVOLDER SANTOS’s opponent. Thereafter, on or about
October 20, 2022, Person #1, again acting at the direction of DEVOLDER SANTOS and on
behalf of Company #1, sent to Contributor #13 another email, which falsely stated that a
contribution from Contributor #13 would be spent, at least in part, “to get our advertising up on
TV.” On or about October 25, 2022, Person #1, again acting at the direction of DEVOLDER
SANTOS and on behalf of Company #1, sent to Contributor #13 a text message, which again
falsely stated that a contribution from Contributor #13 would be spent, at least in part, “to
purchase ads supporting George Santos.” On or about October 26, 2022, in reliance upon these
emails and text message, Contributor #13 caused the sum of $25,000 to be wired to Company #1.
55. In addition, on or about October 12, 2022, Person #1, acting at the
direction of the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS and on behalf of
Company #1, sent an email to Contributor #14, an individual whose identity is known to the
Grand Jury. That email falsely stated, inter alia, that Company #1 was formed “exclusively” to
aid in electing DEVOLDER SANTOS and that “[t]here are no limits for contributors as we are a
501c4 Independent Expenditure committee under federal campaign finance law and do not
coordinate directly with the Santos campaign.” The email to Contributor #14 further stated that
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all funds raised by Company #1 would be spent “directly on supporting George and his election.”
Further, the email to Contributor #14 contained an attachment, which DEVOLDER SANTOS
had previously approved. That attachment described Company #1 as having been “created for
this singular purpose, to support that candidate, George Santos” and represented that Company
#1 was “fully committed to dedicating all its resources to making sure that George Santos is the
next member of Congress representing NY-03.” On or about October 21, 2022, DEVOLDER
SANTOS sent to Contributor #14 one or more text messages in which DEVOLDER SANTOS
reiterated the need for contributions to Company #1, which he falsely stated would be spent “on
TV” advertisements. That same day, in reliance upon the email and accompanying text
messages, Contributor #14 caused the sum of $25,000 to be wired to Company #1.
DEVOLDER SANTOS knew that Company #1 was not, in fact, registered with the FEC as an
independent expenditure-only committee or Super PAC.
56. Shortly after the contributions from Contributor #13 and Contributor #14
were received by Company #1 in the Company #1 Bank Account, they were transferred into
bank accounts controlled by the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS,
including the Devolder Santos Bank Account #1 and a second personal bank account maintained
by DEVOLDER SANTOS (“Devolder Santos Bank Account #2”). From there, the funds
received from Contributor #13 and Contributor #14 were spent by DEVOLDER SANTOS for
his personal benefit, including to make cash withdrawals, personal purchases of luxury designer
clothing, credit card payments, a car payment, payments on personal debts and one or more bank
transfers to DEVOLDER SANTOS’s personal associates. Thus, contrary to representations
made by DEVOLDER SANTOS and Person #1, who was acting at the direction of DEVOLDER
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SANTOS, these contributions to Company #1 were not spent on television advertisements or
other independent expenditures in support of DEVOLDER SANTOS’s candidacy for the House.
IV. The Defendant’s Employment-Related Fraudulent Schemes
A. Fraudulent Application for and Receipt of Unemployment Benefits
57. On or about March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted. In light of the ongoing health crisis related to the novel
coronavirus, COVID-19, the CARES Acct allocated additional unemployment benefits for
eligible individuals. Specifically, the CARES Act established additional unemployment
insurance programs, including the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program and the Federal
Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program. Both programs were federally funded and
were administered by states, including New York State. Funds from both programs, as well as
from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Lost Wages Assistance Program, comprised
the benefits fraudulently obtained by the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER
SANTOS in connection with the scheme outlined below.
58. On or about June 17, 2020, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS applied to receive unemployment insurance benefits through the New
York State Department of Labor (“NYS DOL”). In that application, DEVOLDER SANTOS
falsely claimed to have been unemployed since the week of March 22, 2020. Beginning on or
about June 19, 2020, and continuing through on or about April 15, 2021, DEVOLDER SANTOS
certified his continuing eligibility for unemployment benefits on a weekly basis, in each case
falsely attesting, inter alia, that he was unemployed, available to take on new work and eligible
for benefits. In truth and in fact, however, beginning on or about February 3, 2020, and
continuing through on or about April 15, 2021, DEVOLDER SANTOS was a Regional Director
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at Investment Firm #1. During that period, with the exception of approximately July 5, 2020
through August 30, 2020, DEVOLDER SANTOS received regular deposits into his personal
bank accounts as part of his Regional Director salary of approximately $120,000 per year.
59. For the period of approximately March 22, 2020 through April 15, 2021,
based on a false application and false weekly certifications to the NYS DOL, the defendant
GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS received approximately $24,744 in
unemployment insurance benefits, which were deposited into Devolder Santos Bank Account #2.
The benefits received by DEVOLDER SANTOS were fully funded by the United States and a
department and agency thereof, to wit: the United States Department of the Treasury.
B. False Statements in House Disclosure Reports
60. Pursuant to the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as a candidate for the
House in 2020 and 2022, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS had a
legal duty to file a Financial Disclosure Statement (“House Disclosures”) at designated times
prior to each of the general elections held on November 3, 2020 and November 8, 2022,
respectively. In each of those House Disclosures, DEVOLDER SANTOS was required to make
a “full and complete statement” disclosing, inter alia: (a) his assets and income, transactions,
liabilities, positions held and arrangements and agreements; (b) “the source, type, and amount or
value of income . .. from any source (other than from current employment by the United States
Government)”; and (c) “the source, date, and amount of honoraria from any source, received” for
“the year of filing and the preceding calendar year.” As a candidate, DEVOLDER SANTOS
was personally required to certify the House Disclosures were “true, complete, and correct to the
best of my knowledge and belief.” The Instruction Guide for Financial Disclosure Statements
published by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ethics provided that there were
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civil and criminal penalties for knowingly and willfully falsifying a financial disclosure
statement and cited to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001.
61. The defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS was
required to make these House Disclosures via an online filing system maintained by the House
Committee on Ethics or pre-printed form, and to certify that the statements made therein were
true, complete and correct. DEVOLDER SANTOS was required to file the House Disclosures
with the Clerk of the House, for transmission to the House Committee on Ethics.
62. On or about May 11, 2020, in connection with the 2020 election for the
House, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS filed two House
Disclosures (the “2020 House Disclosures”) in which he falsely certified that, during the
reporting period: (a) his only earned income consisted of salary, commission and bonuses
totaling $55,000 from Company #2, an entity the identity of which is known to the Grand Jury;
and (b) the only compensation exceeding $5,000 he received from a single source in which he
had an ownership interest was an unspecified commission bonus from Company #2.
63. Contrary to these attestations, however, as the defendant GEORGE
ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS then and there well knew and believed, from approximately
February 1, 2020 through the date upon which he filed the 2020 House Disclosures,
DEVOLDER SANTOS received approximately $25,403 in income from Investment Firm #1,
which he failed to truthfully report as required. Further, DEVOLDER SANTOS knew that he
had received only $27,555 in compensation from Company #2 in 2019.
64. Thereafter, on or about September 6, 2022, in connection with the 2022
election for the House, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS filed a
House Disclosure (the “2022 House Disclosure”), in which he falsely certified that, during the
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reporting period: (a) his earned income consisted of $750,000 in salary from the Devolder
Organization LLC; (b) his unearned income included dividends from the Devolder Organization
LLC valued at between $1,000,001 and $5,000,000; (c) he had no compensation exceeding
$5,000 from a single source in which he had an ownership interest; (d) he owned a checking
account with deposits totaling between $100,001 and $250,000; and (e) he owned a savings
account with deposits totaling between $1,000,001 and $5,000,000.
65. Contrary to these attestations, as the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY
DEVOLDER SANTOS then and there well knew and believed, during the applicable reporting
period, he had not received from the Devolder Organization LLC the reported amounts of salary
or dividends and, during the reporting period, he did not maintain checking or savings accounts
with deposits in the reported amounts. In addition, from approximately January 2021 through
September 2021, DEVOLDER SANTOS received approximately $28,107 in income from
Investment Firm #1 and approximately $20,304 in unemployment insurance benefits from the
NYS DOL, both of which he failed to truthfully report as required.
COUNT ONE
(Conspiracy to Commit Offenses Against the United States — the Party Program Scheme)
66. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
67. In or about and between December 202] and November 2022, both dates
being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, together with others, did knowingly
and intentionally conspire:
(a) to knowingly and intentionally devise a scheme and artifice to
defraud and to obtain money and property by means of one or more materially false and
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fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises, in violation of Title 18, United States Code,
Section 1343;
(b) to knowingly and willfully make one or more materially false,
fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations in a matter within the jurisdiction of the
FEC, a department and agency of the United States Government, in violation of Title 18, United
States Code, Section 1001(a)(2);
(c) to knowingly conceal, cover up, falsify and make one or more false
entries in a record and document, and cause others to do so, with the intent to impede, obstruct
and influence the investigation and proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of
the FEC, a department and agency of the United States Government, and in relation to and
contemplation of such matter, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1519; and
(d) to knowingly and intentionally transfer, possess and use, without
lawful authority, one or more means of identification of another person, during and in relation to
felony violations, to wit: wire fraud as charged in Count Two and false statements as charged in
Count Four, knowing the means of identification would belong to another person, in violation of
Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A(a)(1), 1028A(b) and 1028A(c).
68. In furtherance of the conspiracy and to effect its objects, within the Eastern
District of New York and elsewhere, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER
SANTOS, also known as “George Santos,” together with others, did commit and cause the
commission of, among others, the following overt acts:
Approximate Date Overt Act
December 18, 2021 Text messages between DEVOLDER SANTOS and
Nancy Marks referenced in paragraphs 23 and 24.
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December 21, 2021 Text messages between DEVOLDER SANTOS and
Marks referenced in paragraph 25.
December 21, 2021 Email from Marks to herself referenced in paragraph
25.
January 31, 2022 Submission by the Committee of Year-End 2021
Report to the FEC referenced in paragraph 27.
March 21, 2022 Delivery by agents of the Committee of “Path to
Victory” presentation to National Party Committee
#1 referenced in paragraph 35.
March 30, 2022 Text messages between DEVOLDER SANTOS and
an agent of the Committee referenced in paragraph
36.
April 13, 2022 Press release issued by the Committee referenced in
paragraph 37.
April] 15, 2022 Submission by the Committee of April 2022
Quarterly Report to the FEC referenced in paragraph
38.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNTS TWO AND THREE
(Wire Fraud — the Party Program Scheme)
69. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
70. In or about and between December 2021 and November 2022, both dates
being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as “George Santos,”
together with others, did knowingly and intentionally devise a scheme and artifice to defraud and
to obtain money by means of one or more materially false and fraudulent pretenses,
representations and promises.
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71. | Onor about the dates set forth below, for the purpose of executing such
scheme and artifice, and attempting to do so, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER
SANTOS, also known as “George Santos,” together with others, did transmit and cause to be
transmitted, by means of wire communication in interstate and foreign commerce, one or more
writings, signs, signals, pictures and sounds, as set forth below:
Count Approximate Date Description
TWO January 31, 2022 Submission by the Committee of Year-End 2021
Report to the FEC referenced in paragraph 27.
THREE April 15, 2022 Submission by the Committee of April 2022
Quarterly Report to the FEC referenced in paragraph
38.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343, 2 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT FOUR
(False Statements — Year-End 2021 Report Submitted to the FEC)
72. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
73. Onor about January 31, 2022, within the Eastern District of New York
and elsewhere, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as
“George Santos,” together with others, in a matter within the jurisdiction of a department and
agency of the United States Government, to wit: the FEC, did knowingly and willfully make and
cause to be made one or more materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and
representations, to wit! DEVOLDER SANTOS, together with others, caused the Committee to
submit a Report of Receipts and Disbursements to the FEC falsely stating that: (a) Contributor
#1 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee on December 31, 2021; (b)
Contributor #2 made one contribution of $2,900 to the Committee on December 31, 2021; (c)
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Contributor #3 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee on December 31, 2021;
(d) Contributor #4 made one contribution of $2,900 to the Committee on December 31, 2021; (e)
Contributor #5 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee on December 16, 2021;
(f) Contributor #6 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee on November 15,
2021; (g) Contributor #7 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee on December
31, 2021; (h) Contributor #8 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee on
December 31, 2021; (i) Contributor #9 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee
on November 3, 2021; (j) Contributor #10 made a contribution of $3,900 to the Committee on
October 9, 2021; (k) Contributor #11 made a contribution of $2,900 to the Committee on
December 31, 2021; and (I) Person #2 made a contribution of $2,400 and a contribution of
$2,600 to the Committee, both on December 17, 2021. Contrary to these statements, in truth
and in fact, as DEVOLDER SANTOS then and there well knew and believed, none of these
contributions had been made to the Committee by the persons reported to be the sources of these
funds.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1001(a)(2), 2 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT FIVE
(Falsification of a Record or Document — Year-End 2021 Report Submitted to the FEC)
74. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
75. On or about January 31, 2022, within the Eastern District of New York
and elsewhere, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as
“George Santos,” together with others, did knowingly conceal, cover up, falsify and make one or
more false entries in a record and document, and cause others to do so, with the intent to impede,
obstruct and influence the investigation and proper administration of a matter within the
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jurisdiction of a department and agency of the United States, and in relation to and contemplation
of such matter, to wit! DEVOLDER SANTOS, together with others, caused the Committee to
submit a Report of Receipts and Disbursements to the FEC falsely stating that: (a) Contributor
#1 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee on December 31, 2021; (b)
Contributor #2 made one contribution of $2,900 to the Committee on December 31, 2021; (c)
Contributor #3 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee on December 31, 2021;
(d) Contributor #4 made one contribution of $2,900 to the Committee on December 31, 2021; (e)
Contributor #5 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee on December 16, 2021;
(f) Contributor #6 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee on November 15,
2021; (g) Contributor #7 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee on December
31, 2021; (h) Contributor #8 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee on
December 31, 2021; (i) Contributor #9 made two contributions of $2,900 each to the Committee
on November 3, 2021; (j) Contributor #10 made a contribution of $3,900 to the Committee on
October 9, 2021; (k} Contributor #11 made a contribution of $2,900 to the Committee on
December 31, 2021; and (I) Person #2 made a contribution of $2,400 and a contribution of
$2,600 to the Committee, both on December 17, 2021. Contrary to these statements, in truth
and in fact, as DEVOLDER SANTOS then and there well knew and believed, none of these
contributions had been made to the Committee by the persons reported to be the sources of the
funds.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1519, 2 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT SIX
(Aggravated Identity Theft — the Party Program Scheme)
76. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
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77. On or about January 31, 2022, within the Eastern District of New York
and elsewhere, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as
“George Santos,” together with others, during and in relation to the crimes charged in Counts
Two and Four, did knowingly and intentionally transfer, possess and use, without lawful
authority, one or more means of identification of a person, to wit: the name of Contributor #1,
the name of Contributor #2, the name of Contributor #3, the name of Contributor #4, the name of
Contributor #5, the name of Contributor #6, the name of Contributor #7, the name of Contributor
#8, the name of Contributor #9, the name of Contributor #10 and the name of Contributor #11,
knowing that the means of identification belonged to said other persons.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A(a)(1), 1028A(b), 1028A(c)(4),
1028A(c)(5), 2 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT SEVEN
(False Statements — April 2022 Quarterly Report Submitted to the FEC)
78. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph,
79, On or about April 15, 2022, within the Eastern District of New York and
elsewhere, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as “George
Santos,” together with others, in a matter within the jurisdiction of a department and agency of
the United States Government, to wit: the FEC, did knowingly and willfully make and cause to
be made one or more materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations, to
wit: DEVOLDER SANTOS caused the Committee to submit a Report of Receipts and
Disbursements to the FEC falsely stating that DEVOLDER SANTOS had loaned the Committee
$500,000 on March 31, 2022. Contrary to these statements, in truth and in fact, as DEVOLDER
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SANTOS then and there well knew and believed, DEVOLDER SANTOS had not loaned the
Committee $500,000 on March 31, 2022.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1001(a)(2), 2 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT EIGHT
(Falsification of a Record or Document — April 2022 Quarterly Report Submitted to the FEC)
80. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
81. On or about April 15, 2022, within the Eastern District of New York and
elsewhere, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as “George
Santos,” together with others, did knowingly conceal, cover up, falsify and make one or more
false entries in a record and document, and cause others to do so, with the intent to impede,
obstruct and influence the investigation and proper administration of a matter within the
jurisdiction of a department and agency of the United States, and in relation to and contemplation
of such matter, to wit! DEVOLDER SANTOS, together with others, caused the Committee to
submit a Report of Receipts and Disbursements to the FEC falsely stating that DEVOLDER
SANTOS had loaned the Committee $500,000 on March 31, 2022. Contrary to these
statements, in truth and in fact, as DEVOLDER SANTOS then and there well knew and
believed, DEVOLDER SANTOS had not loaned the Committee $500,000 on March 31, 2022.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1519, 2 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT NINE
(Access Device Fraud — the Credit Card Fraud Scheme)
82. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
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83. In or about and between December 2021 and August 2022, both dates
being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as “George Santos,”
together with others, did knowingly and with intent to defraud effect transactions, with one or
more access devices issued to another person or persons, to receive payment and other things of
value during a one-year period the aggregate value of which was equal to or greater than $1,000,
in a manner affecting interstate commerce,
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1029(a)(5), 1029(c)(1 (A)(ii) and 3551 et
seq.)
COUNT TEN
(Aggravated Identity Theft — the Credit Card Fraud Scheme)
84. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
85. In or about and between December 2021 and August 2022, both dates
being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as “George Santos,”
together with others, during and in relation to the crime charged in Count Nine, did knowingly
and intentionally transfer, possess and use, without lawful authority, one or more means of
identification of one or more persons, to wit: the name and access device of Contributor #12,
knowing that the means of identification belonged to another person.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A(a)(1), 1028A(b), 1028A(c)(4), 2 and 3551 et seq.)
Case 2:23-cr-00197-JS-AYS Document 50 Filed 10/10/23 Page 33 of 42 PagelD #: 351
33
COUNTS ELEVEN THROUGH FIFTEEN
(Wire Fraud — the Company #1 Fraud Scheme)
86. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
87. In or about and between September 2022 and October 2022, both dates
being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as “George Santos,”
together with others, did knowingly and intentionally devise a scheme and artifice to defraud and
to obtain money by means of one or more materially false and fraudulent pretenses,
representations and promises.
88. On or about the dates set forth below, for the purpose of executing such
scheme and artifice, and attempting to do so, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER
SANTOS, also known as “George Santos,” did transmit and cause to be transmitted, by means of
wire communication in interstate and foreign commerce, one or more writings, signs, signals,
pictures and sounds, as set forth below:
Count Approximate Date Description
ELEVEN October 4, 2022 Email on behalf of Company #1 to Contributor #1
falsely stating that funds received from Contributor #1
would be used in support of DEVOLDER SANTOS’s
candidacy for the House.
TWELVE October 12, 2022 Email on behalf of Company #1 to Contributor #2
falsely stating that funds received from Contributor #2
would be used to independently support DEVOLDER
SANTOS’s candidacy for the House and that
Company #1 was a Section 501(c)(4) social welfare
organization that could accept limitless contributions.
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34
THIRTEEN = | October 20, 2022 Email on behalf of Company #1 to Contributor #1
falsely stating that funds received from Contributor #1
would be used, in part, to purchase television
advertisements supporting DEVOLDER SANTOS’s
candidacy for the House.
FOURTEEN | October 21, 2022 Text message from DEVOLDER SANTOS to
Contributor #2 falsely stating that funds received from
Contributor #2 would be used, in part, to purchase
television advertisements supporting DEVOLDER
SANTOS’s candidacy for the House.
FIFTEEN October 25, 2022 Text message on behalf of Company #1 to Contributor
#1 falsely stating that funds received from Contributor
#1 would be used, in part, to purchase television
advertisements supporting DEVOLDER SANTOS’s
candidacy for the House.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343, 2 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNTS SIXTEEN THROUGH EIGHTEEN
(Unlawful Monetary Transactions Over $10,000 — the Company #1 Fraud Scheme)
89. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
90. On or about and between October 21, 2022 and October 26, 2022, both
dates being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere,
the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as “George Santos,”
together with others, did knowingly and intentionally engage in one or more monetary
transactions, in and affecting interstate commerce, in criminally derived property that was of a
value greater than $10,000, as set forth in the chart below, and that was derived from specified
unlawful activity, to wit: wire fraud as charged in Counts Eleven through Fifteen, in violation of
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section
1957(a):
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35
Count Approximate Date Description
SIXTEEN October 21, 2022 On or about October 21, 2022, DEVOLDER SANTOS
electronically transferred approximately $25,000
fraudulently obtained from Contributor #2 from
Company #1 Bank Account to Devolder Santos Bank
Account #1.
SEVENTEEN | October 26, 2022 On or about October 26, 2022, DEVOLDER SANTOS
electronically transferred approximately $25,000
fraudulently obtained from Contributor #1 from
Company #1 Bank Account to Devolder Santos Bank
Account #2,
EIGHTEEN October 26, 2022 On or about October 26, 2022, DEVOLDER SANTOS
electronically transferred approximately $24,000
fraudulently obtained from Contributor #1 from
Devolder Santos Bank Account #2 to Devolder Santos
Bank Account #1.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1957(a), 1957(b), 2 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT NINETEEN
(Theft of Public Money — Fraudulent Application for and Receipt of Unemployment Benefits)
91. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
92. In or about and between June 2020 and April 2021, both dates being
approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the defendant
GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as “George Santos,” did knowingly,
willfully and without lawful authority embezzle, steal, purloin and convert to his own use money
and things of value of the United States and a department and agency thereof, to wit: money of
the United States Department of the Treasury, the aggregate value of which exceeded $1,000.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 641 and 3551 et seq.)
Case 2:23-cr-00197-JS-AYS Document 50 Filed 10/10/23 Page 36 of 42 PagelD #: 354
36
COUNTS TWENTY AND TWENTY-ONE
(Wire Fraud — Fraudulent Application for and Receipt of Unemployment Benefits)
93. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
94, On or about and between June 19, 2020 and April 15, 2021, both dates
being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as “George Santos,” did
knowingly and intentionally devise a scheme and artifice to defraud the NYS DOL, and to obtain
money from the NYS DOL by means of one or more materially false and fraudulent pretenses,
representations and promises.
95. | Onor about the dates set forth below, for the purpose of executing the
scheme, and attempting to do so, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS,
also known as “George Santos,” did transmit and cause to be transmitted, by means of wire
communications in interstate and foreign commerce, writings, signs, signals, pictures and
sounds, as set forth below:
Count Date Description
TWENTY | January 19, 2021 On or about January 19, 2021, DEVOLDER SANTOS
received $564.00 through interstate wires from the NYS
DOL in New York to Devolder Santos Bank Account #2
in New York, passing through one or more computer
servers located outside New York.
TWENTY- | January 26, 2021 On or about January 26, 2021, DEVOLDER SANTOS
ONE received $564.00 through interstate wires from the NYS
DOL in New York to Devolder Santos Bank Account #2
in New York, passing through one or more computer
servers located outside New York.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343, 2 and 3551 et seq.)
Case 2:23-cr-00197-JS-AYS Document 50 Filed 10/10/23 Page 37 of 42 PagelD #: 355
37
COUNT TWENTY-TWO
(False Statements — 2020 House Disclosure Reports)
96. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
97. On or about May 11, 2020, within the Eastern District of New York and
elsewhere, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as “George
Santos,” in a matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch of the Government of the
United States, did knowingly and willfully make one or more materially false, fictious and
fraudulent statements and representations, to wit! DEVOLDER SANTOS submitted to the Clerk
of the House, for delivery to the House Committee on Ethics, an amended House Disclosure
falsely stating that, during the applicable reporting period: (a) his only earned income consisted
of a salary, commission and bonus totaling $55,000 from Company #2; and (b) the only
compensation exceeding $5,000 he received from a single source in which he had an ownership
interest was a commission bonus from Company #2, when in truth and in fact, as DEVOLDER
SANTOS then and there well knew and believed, he had earned $27,555 from Company #2 in
2019 and had received approximately $25,403 in income from Investment Firm #1 during the
same reporting period, which he failed to report as required.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1001(a)(2), (c)(1) and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT TWENTY-THREE
(False Statements — 2022 House Disclosure Report)
98. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 65 are realleged and
incorporated as if fully set forth in this paragraph.
99. On or about September 6, 2022, within the Eastern District of New York
and elsewhere, the defendant GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, also known as
Case 2:23-cr-00197-JS-AYS Document 50 Filed 10/10/23 Page 38 of 42 PagelD #: 356
38
“George Santos,” in a matter within the legislative branch of the Government of the United
States, did knowingly and willfully make one or more materially false, fictious and fraudulent
statements and representations, to wit! DEVOLDER SANTOS submitted to the Clerk of the
House, for delivery to the House Committee on Ethics, a House Disclosure falsely stating that, in
the year 2021 and in 2022 up to the filing date: (a) his earned income consisted of $750,000 in
salary from the Devolder Organization LLC; (b) his unearned income included dividends from
the Devolder Organization LLC valued at between $1,000,001 and $5,000,000; and (c) he had no
compensation exceeding $5,000 from a single source in which he had an ownership interest.
Further, DEVOLDER SANTOS falsely stated that (d) he owned a checking account with
deposits totaling between $100,001 and $250,000; and (e) he owned a savings account with
deposits totaling between $1,000,001 and $5,000,000. Contrary to these statements, in truth and
in fact, as DEVOLDER SANTOS then and there well knew and believed, he had not received
from the Devolder Organization LLC the reported amounts of salary or dividends; he did not
maintain checking or savings accounts with deposits in the reported amounts; and he received
approximately $28,107 in income from Investment Firm #1 and approximately $20,304 in
unemployment insurance benefits from the NYS DOL during the same reporting period, all of
which he failed to report as required.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1001(a)(2), (c)(1) and 3551 et seq.)
CRIMINAL FORFEITURE ALLEGATION
AS TO COUNTS ONE THROUGH THREE, ELEVEN THROUGH FIFTEEN, AND
NINETEEN THROUGH TWENTY-ONE
100. The United States hereby gives notice to the defendant that, upon his
conviction of any of the offenses charged in Counts One through Three, Eleven through
Fifteen and Nineteen through Twenty-One, the government will seek forfeiture in accordance
Case 2:23-cr-00197-JS-AYS Document 50 Filed 10/10/23 Page 39 of 42 PagelD #: 357
39
with Title 18, United States Code, Section 981(a)(1)(C) and Title 28, United States Code,
Section 2461(c), which require any person convicted of such offenses to forfeit any property, real
or personal, constituting, or derived from, proceeds obtained directly or indirectly as a result of
such offenses.
101. If any of the above-described forfeitable property, as a result of any act or
omission of the defendant:
(a) cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;
(b) has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party;
(c) has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court;
(d) has been substantially diminished in value; or
(e) has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided
without difficulty;
it is the intent of the United States, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p), to
seek forfeiture of any other property of the defendant up to the value of the forfeitable property
described in this forfeiture allegation.
(Title 18, United States Code, Section 981(a)(1)(C); Title 21, United States Code,
Section 853(p); Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c))
CRIMINAL FORFEITURE ALLEGATION
AS TO COUNT NINE
102. The United States hereby gives notice to the defendant that, upon his
conviction of the offense charged in Count Nine, the government will seek forfeiture in
accordance with: (a) Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(a)(2)(B), which requires any
person convicted of such offense to forfeit any property constituting, or derived from, proceeds
obtained directly or indirectly as a result of such offense; and (b) Title 18, United States Code,
Case 2:23-cr-00197-JS-AYS Document 50 Filed 10/10/23 Page 40 of 42 PagelD #: 358
40
Section 1029(c)(1)(C), which requires any person convicted of such offense to forfeit any
personal property used or intended to be used to commit the offense.
103. If any of the above-described forfeitable property, as a result of any act or
omission of the defendant:
(a) cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;
(b) _ has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party;
(c) has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court;
(d) has been substantially diminished in value; or
(e) has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided
without difficulty;
it is the intent of the United States, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p), as
incorporated by Title 18, United States Code, Sections 982(b)(1) and 1029(c)(2), to seek forfeiture
of any other property of the defendant up to the value of the forfeitable property described in this
forfeiture allegation.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 982(a)(2)(B), 982(b)(1), 1029(c)(1)(C)
and 1029(c)(2); Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p))
CRIMINAL FORFEITURE ALLEGATION
AS TO COUNTS SIXTEEN THROUGH EIGHTEEN
104. The United States hereby gives notice to the defendant that, upon his
conviction of any of the offenses charged in Counts Sixteen through Eighteen, the
government will seek forfeiture in accordance with Title 18, United States Code, Section
982(a)(1), which requires any person convicted of such offenses to forfeit any property, real or
personal, involved in such offenses, or any property traceable to such property.
Case 2:23-cr-00197-JS-AYS Document 50 Filed 10/10/23 Page 41 of 42 PagelD #: 359
4]
105. Ifany of the above-described forfeitable property, as a result of any act or
omission of the defendant:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
without difficulty;
cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;
has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party;
has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court;
has been substantially diminished in value; or
has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided
it is the intent of the United States, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p), as
incorporated by Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(b)(1), to seek forfeiture of any other
property of the defendant up to the value of the forfeitable property described in this forfeiture
allegation.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 982(a)(1) and 982(b)(1); Title 21, United
States Code, Section 853(p))
Sx
A TRUE BILL
_ ( \ FORERERSON
BREON PEACE
eRe ee ATTORNEY
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
COREY. AMUNDSON
CHIEF, PUBLIC INTEGRITY SECTION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Case 2:23-cr-00197-JS-AYS Document 50 Filed 10/10/23 Page 42 of 42 PagelD #: 360
F.#: 2022R01030
FORM DBD-34 No.
| UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN District of NEW YORK
CRIMINAL DIVISION
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
VS,
GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS, et al.
Defendant.
SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT
(T. 18, U.S.C., §§ 371, 641, 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(1), 982(a)(2)(B),
982(b)(1), 1001(a)(2), 1001(c)(1), 1028A(a)(1), 1028A(b), 1028A(c)(4),
1028A(c)(5), 1029(a)(5), 1029(c)(1)(A)(ii), 1343, 1519, 1957(a), 1957(b),
2 and 3551 et seq.; T. 21, U.S.C., § 853(p); T. 28, U.S.C., § 2461(c))
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Ryan C. Harris / Laura Zuckerwise, Assistant U.S. Attorneys (718) 254-6489 / 6204
Anthony Bagnuola Assistant U.S. Attorney (631) 715-7849
Jacob R. Steiner / John P. Taddei, Trial Attorneys (202) 514-1412File and source
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