George Santos Begins His 87-Month Prison Sentence

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — Disgraced former congressman George Santos has started his prison sentence, the Bureau of Federal Prisons confirmed to Patch.

Santos was given an 87-month sentence by Judge Joanna Seybert in April for his federal fraud and corruption case.

Santos surrendered to authorities on Friday to begin the sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution Fairton in New Jersey, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Federal Prisons said.

Earlier this month, Santos tweeted that he was ready to head to jail. However, he warned the public if anything happens, "so there's no confusion. I did not kill myself."

The seven-year, three-month term was also what the Department of Justice recommended, calling it "reasonable and appropriate" in this case.

Last August, Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

He spent less than one year as a Congressman representing the New York's 3rd District, before getting voted out of office. Santos was only the sixth member of Congress to face expulsion.

At the sentencing, U.S. Attorney John Durham said Santos is being "held accountable for his years of fraud, deceit and theft."

Santos was seeking only two years in prison, the minimum sentence for the identity theft charge.

The one-time lawmaker is "where he belongs, behind bars answering for these crimes," Nassau County D.A. Anne Donnelly said after the April sentencing.

As part of the plea agreement, Santos was ordered to pay restitution of more than $373,000 and forfeiture of $205,000, the Department of Justice said.

"Santos' blatant corruption is an affront to our electoral process, our representative government and to the people of New York's 3rd Congressional District," said Durham in April. "But today, and finally, Santos has been held accountable for his years of fraud, deceit and theft."