{"id":2098878,"date":"2023-11-14T17:49:01","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T22:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-santos-campaign-staffer-pleads-guilty-to-wire-fraud\/"},"modified":"2023-11-14T17:52:54","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T22:52:54","slug":"former-santos-campaign-staffer-pleads-guilty-to-wire-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-santos-campaign-staffer-pleads-guilty-to-wire-fraud\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Santos campaign staffer pleads guilty to wire fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-santos-campaign-staffer-pleads-guilty-to-wire-fraud%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2098878&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Former\u200d Campaign Staffer Pleads \u200cGuilty in\u200b Fraud Investigation<\/h2>\n<p>Another former campaign staffer of Rep. George Santos \u200d(R-NY) \u200bhas\u2062 pleaded guilty in part of\u2063 a federal investigation into claims the New York Republican committed\u200c fraud during his \u2062campaigns for the House.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel Miele, who served as \u200ba campaign fundraiser\u200c for Santos during the 2020 and\u2062 2022 election \u200dcycles, pleaded\u200d guilty to one count of wire\u200b fraud \u200bon Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office for the Eastern District of New York.<\/p>\n<h3>Is Nikki Haley the Big Winner of Tim Scott Suspending \u2062His Presidential Campaign?<\/h3>\n<p>Miele was charged earlier this year with four counts\u200c of wire\u200c fraud and\u2062 one count of\u2062 aggravated identity theft in an alleged fraud \u200bscheme, which he previously pleaded not\u200c guilty to. On Tuesday, Miele\u200c admitted he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/feds-say-theyve-seized-50000-stolen-bitcoins-stored-in-a-popcorn-tin\/\" title=\"Feds Say They've Seized 50,000 Stolen Bitcoins Stored in a Popcorn Tin\">committed wire fraud<\/a> but \u2063not identity theft.<\/p>\n<p>The Justice Department said Miele impersonated a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-instructs-kabul-embassy-to-destroy-american-flags-as-it-braces-for-global-embarrassment\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Instructs Kabul Embassy To Destroy American Flags As It Braces For Global Embarrassment\">high-ranking aide<\/a>\u200c to \u2063a member of House \u2063leadership, listed\u2063 as &#8220;Person \u2062#1&#8221; in\u200c the indictment, as part of a &#8220;scheme&#8221; to collect donations for Santos&#8217;s campaigns. Multiple outlets have reported that &#8220;Person #1&#8221; is believed to be\u2062 former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy&#8217;s (R-CA) chief of staff.<\/p>\n<p>Miele admitted to committing access fraud by charging credit\u2063 cards without\u2063 authorization for \u2063contributions to \u2064Santos&#8217;s campaign, other candidates&#8217; campaigns, and for his own personal use.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200d former fundraiser faces\u200b up to \u200c20 years in prison. Miele agreed\u2064 to pay $109,171 in \u2063restitution, $69,136 in forfeiture, and a separate \u200dstipulated \u200cpayment of\u2062 $470,000 to \u200ca \u200bcontributor, \u200baccording to the DOJ.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;The defendant used fraud and deceit\u2064 to steal more than one\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joe-bidens-plan-for-450k-payouts-to-border-crossers-stalls-amidst-backlash\/\" title=\"Joe Biden's Plan for 0K Payouts to Border Crossers Stalls Amidst Backlash\">hundred thousand dollars<\/a> from his victims, \u200dfunneling \u200bthis\u2063 money into the campaign committees of candidates for\u2063 the House, and into his own pockets,\u201d U.S. Attorney Breon \u2064Peace said\u200c in a statement. \u200d\u201cDefrauding \u2064potential political contributors undermines \u200cour \u2064democracy, \u200dand we will vigorously prosecute such conduct.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Miele&#8217;s guilty plea comes over a \u2064month after\u2064 then-campaign\u200b treasurer Nancy Marks pleaded guilty to\u2063 conspiring with a \u2063congressional candidate to deceive the \u2063Federal Election Commission. She faces up to five years in \u2064prison.<\/p>\n<p>Santos \u2064recently pleaded not guilty\u2064 to\u200d charges in\u200b a new \u2062indictment \u200cbrought against him by Peace. The indictment alleged\u200d that he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-santos-campaign-staffer-pleads-guilty-to-wire-fraud\/\" title=\"Former Santos campaign staffer pleads guilty to wire fraud\">filed deceptive fundraising reports<\/a> and committed credit\u2064 card fraud during the 2022 election cycle. The \u200bNew York Republican was originally indicted on six charges \u200cin May, but Peace brought 17 new charges in a superseding\u200b indictment on Oct. 10.<\/p>\n<p>In\u200d an interview with CNN last week, Santos placed \u200cthe blame for his 23 charges at Marks&#8217;s feet.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI never ever submitted\u200b or even looked\u200b at a single\u200d report,\u201d \u200bSantos said. \u201cI&#8217;m a candidate. Candidates do not handle money. Candidates\u2064 do \u200cnot handle finances. Candidates do not handle filings. I don&#8217;t even \u200bknow what the FEC filing system looks like.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\">CLICK HERE TO READ\u2063 MORE\u2062 FROM THE\u200b WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The\u2064 New York freshman \u200bhas repeatedly come\u2064 under fire\u2063 for his legal troubles since being sworn into Congress earlier this year, with \u2063several lawmakers, \u200cincluding\u200b those from his\u200b own party, calling \u2064for his resignation.<\/p>\n<p>Santos survived a second expulsion\u200b attempt \u200bin Congress \u2063after the House rejected a motion to\u2063 remove \u2062him on Nov. 1, citing an ongoing congressional\u200b ethics investigation into \u200dthe New York Republican. The Ethics\u200b Committee \u200cissued \u2062an update to the investigation on Oct. 31, which is looking at Santos&#8217;s federal indictments, as well as several other state criminal and ethical indictments.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How can the allegations of fraud \u2064and admissions\u200b by former staff members impact\u200c Rep. Santos&#8217;s ability to effectively carry out his \u2063duties as a member of the House of Representatives?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Idates and for personal use,&#8221; said Acting\u200c U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Goldstein. &#8220;This guilty plea underscores our commitment to holding accountable those\u200d who manipulate \u200dthe political process for personal gain.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This guilty plea comes as the federal investigation into Rep. Santos&#8217;s alleged fraud continues. The investigation began after allegations surfaced that Santos was involved in \u200ca fraudulent scheme to deceive donors and misappropriate campaign funds.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, another former campaign\u2062 staffer, Michael Reynolds, pleaded guilty to \u2062charges of wire fraud and identity theft in connection to\u2063 the same investigation. Reynolds admitted to using fraudulent means to collect donations for Santos&#8217;s campaigns and to \u2064appropriating funds for personal use.<\/p>\n<p>These guilty \u2062pleas raise serious questions about the integrity and ethics of \u200dRep. Santos&#8217;s campaigns. The\u200d allegations of fraud and the \u2062admissions by his former staff members \u200dpaint a troubling \u2063picture of potential wrongdoing within his campaign operations.<\/p>\n<p>As a member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Santos has a \u2062responsibility to represent and serve the best interests of his constituents. These allegations of fraud not only undermine public trust in the political process but also raise doubts about\u2063 Rep. Santos&#8217;s \u2064ability to effectively carry out his duties.<\/p>\n<p>It is important that a thorough and impartial investigation be conducted to determine the \u2064extent \u2064of Rep. \u200bSantos&#8217;s involvement in the alleged fraud. The guilty pleas of\u200b his former campaign staff members\u200d indicate that there is sufficient evidence to warrant further scrutiny.<\/p>\n<p>If Rep. Santos \u2062is found guilty of fraud, it would be a serious breach\u2064 of public trust and a betrayal\u200c of the voters who elected him to office. It is crucial that the justice system holds him accountable for any \u2062criminal activity he may have engaged \u200cin.<\/p>\n<p>In light of these developments, it is also incumbent upon\u2064 the Republican Party to take\u200b appropriate \u200caction. If\u200d Rep. \u2064Santos \u200cis found guilty,\u200c the\u200b party should consider measures to address the damage \u2062caused by his alleged actions \u2062and to ensure \u2064that such misconduct does not reoccur \u200bwithin its ranks.<\/p>\n<p>Citizens\u2062 deserve elected officials who are honest, \u2062trustworthy, and dedicated to serving the public interest. Cases\u200b like this underscore the need for robust campaign finance regulations \u2062and \u2064increased transparency in the political process to prevent fraud and corruption.<\/p>\n<p>The guilty plea\u200d of Samuel Miele, along with the earlier guilty \u200cplea of \u200bMichael\u2064 Reynolds, should serve as a wake-up call for \u2063the American public and our elected representatives.\u2062 It is crucial that we remain \u200dvigilant in holding our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-democrats-h-r-1-is-a-power-grab-would-undermine-states-election-rules\/\" title=\"Republicans: Democrats\u2019 H.R. 1 Is a Power Grab, Would Undermine States\u2019 Election Rules\">elected officials accountable<\/a> for their actions and \u200dthat we demand integrity\u200d in our political system.<\/p>\n<p>As the\u2064 investigation into Rep. Santos&#8217;s alleged fraud\u200d continues, the public will be watching closely to\u2062 see how justice is served. We \u2062must ensure \u2063that our democratic processes are protected and \u2064that those\u200b who seek\u2064 to undermine them are held responsible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Another former campaign staffer of Rep. George Santos (R-NY) has pleaded guilty in part of a federal investigation into claims the New York Republican committed fraud during his campaigns for the House. Samuel Miele, who served as a campaign fundraiser for Santos during the 2020 and 2022 election cycles, pleaded guilty to one count of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2098879,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2098878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2098878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2098878"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2098878\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2098879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2098878"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2098878"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2098878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}