Former GOP congressman George Santos pleaded guilty on Monday to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. Santos, who was expelled from the House of Representatives, reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors in New York. “This plea is not just an admission of guilt,” Santos said, according to ABC News. “It’s an acknowledgment that I need to be held accountable like any other American that breaks the law,” he added. Santos is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7th. JUST IN – Expelled Congressman George Santos pleads guilty to two felony counts of wire fraud and aggravated identify theft in fraud case — CBS pic.twitter.com/Jr5Ab1oKCv — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) August 19, 2024 ABC News reports: Santos pleaded guilty to claiming relatives had made contributions to his campaign when, in fact, they had not. Santos conceded he was trying to meet the fundraising threshold to qualify for financial help from the National Republican Congressional Committee. Santos also stipulated that he committed other fraud, including charging donor credit cards without authorization and convincing donors to give money by falsely stating the money would be used for TV ads. He also stipulated he stole public money by applying for and receiving unemployment benefits during the pandemic to which he was not entitled. Santos conceded in a statement to the court his actions “betrayed” his constituents and others. In addition to potential prison time, Santos must pay restitution of nearly $374,000 and forfeiture of more than $200,000. Santos faces a sentence of 75-87 months, including a mandatory minimum two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. George Santos, the former congressman from New York, pleaded guilty on Monday to two federal crimes: wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to The Associated Press. This development is part of a plea deal with the Justice Department, which indicted Santos on 23… pic.twitter.com/ur96jkxXHD — Scripps News (@scrippsnews) August 19, 2024 WATCH: George Santos pleads guilty to some counts of federal fraud, will avoid trial. Santos was emotional after this hearing today. Remorseful for his actions. Thanking his family for standing by his side. pic.twitter.com/OXCmSYetTw — Alexis McAdams (@AlexisMcAdamsTV) August 19, 2024 Per CBS News: Santos spoke in court, acknowledging a series of crimes. He spoke so quickly the judge had to tell him to slow down, CBS News New York’s Alice Gainer reported. He admitted fraudulently using credit cards of at least one other person for his personal benefit, as well as making false statements to the Federal Election Commission. He also admitted to committing wire fraud between Sept-Oct of 2022. In addition to pleading guilty to those crimes, Peace said Santos also admitted to a “litany” of other crimes, “for which the court will hold him accountable at sentencing.” Nassau County DA Anne Donnelly praised the cooperation with federal partners in the prosecution of Santos. “Working together to prosecute a liar, a cheat, and a thief, for that’s what George Santos is, and that’s what his plea of guilty here today proves,” Donnelly said. “It’s clear to me now I allowed ambition to cloud my judgment, leading me to make decisions that were unethical and pleading guilty is a step I never imagined I’d take, but it is a necessary one because it is the right thing to do,” Santos said, according to CBS News.