FBI Agents are Investigating Rep. George Santos’ (R-NY, 3rd district), role in an alleged GoFundMe Scheme involving a Disabled U.S. Navy Veteran’s dying Service Dog. Two Agents contacted former Service Member Richard Osthoff Wednesday, on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York.
Osthoff gave the Agents 2016 Text Messages with Santos, who he says used his Plight to raise $3,000 for Life-Saving Surgery for his Pit Bull mix, Sapphire, then took the Funds. “I’m glad to get the ball rolling with the big-wigs,” Osthoff said in an interview Wednesday. “I was worried that what happened to me was too long ago to be prosecuted.”
Joshua Schiller, a Senior Trial Lawyer who has practiced in the Eastern District, said the Veteran’s encounter with Santos, could offer Prosecutors a quick way to hit the Republican Congressman with Criminal Charges, even though they’re also Investigating heftier possible Financial Crimes.
“I think there is an urgency here because Santos is currently in a position to make laws,” Schiller said. “I can think of examples where the government used a lesser indictment to seize assets and try to cause the defendant to plea to a deal before bringing a second or third indictment on more serious charges, and I bet that is the case here.”
Devolder, is a version of Santos’ full name, he used before entering Politics, set up the GoFundMe Account and Promoted it on Social Media saying, “When a veteran reaches out to ask for help, how can you say no?” according to Screenshots of the Postings. When the Account had reached its $3,000 Goal, Devolder gave a series of Excuses about why he couldn’t help Sapphire get Treatment, then became difficult to Reach, that Text Messages between the Two show.
Schiller said the GoFundMe Allegations could Result in several types of Charges including: Wire and Mail Fraud, as well as Bank Fraud. Santos could have also Committed Tax Crimes, if he claimed Exemptions for an Unregistered Charity, Schiller said.
Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) asked the Federal Election Commission (FEC), to Pause any Enforcement action against Santos, as the DOJ worked on its own Case. Over $700,000 Santos initially listed as a Personal Loan to his Campaign, may have been an Illegal Straw Donor Scheme, according to FEC Complaints.
The New York Attorney General’s Office, as well as the Queens and Nassau County District Attorneys, are also probing Santos.
Osthoff said the New York Attorney General’s Office Public Integrity Bureau, which handles Fraud and Criminal Inquiries into Elected Officials, began Investigating the GoFundMe drive last month.
A Spokesperson for the New York Attorney General, Tish James (D) said on Dec. 22, 2022, that her Office was “looking into” several Issues surrounding Santos.
A Spokesperson for GoFundMe indicated the company has been Cooperating with Ongoing Investigations.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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