Allegedly Scammed Navy Vet Wants Criminal Charges Brought Against Rep. George Santos

The Navy veteran that was allegedly scammed by the newly elected Rep. George Santos is asking for the law to help him.

Drama has continued to unfold since the disabled veteran, Richard Osthoff, came forward to accuse the New York rep of disappearing with the money they raised for his service dog's life-saving surgery. The scam occurred in 2016 while Osthoff was living in a New Jersey tent on the side of a highway with his beloved dog, Sapphire. 

According to Osthoff's claims, he had to find a way to pay the bill of $3,000 he was given for surgery following Sapphire's diagnosis of a stomach tumor. At this point, a veterinarian technician told the old-timer about a guy who could help him.

That guy turned out to be Anthony Devolder, who seemingly ran a pet charity called Friends of Pets United and was willing to raise funds for the canine. Osthoff would later discover that Anthony Devolder was just one of the aliases that Santos coined from his legal name — George Anthony Devolder Santos.

The retired soldier recounted that Santos set up a GoFundMe page for Sapphire's surgery, closing it when it reached the three thousand mark. From then on, the lawmaker became "increasingly difficult to contact," even asking Osthoff to take his beloved dog to another vet clinic for the procedure.

Not only did the clinic recommended by Santos claim that the tumor was inoperable, but Santos also stated he would take the money raised and use it for "other dogs," tipping the Navy retiree off that he had been scammed. Unfortunately, Sapphire died the following year.

Speaking to TMZ on the unending story, Osthoff disclosed that he sees the alleged scam as charity fraud and wire fraud, calling Santos a swindler who used an alias to get away with the crime.

As far as he is concerned, the only way to get justice would be if the law hit the congressman with criminal charges. Osthoff is allegedly working with government agencies to give Santos what he deserves — although what actions he has taken so far remain unclear.

In an update from ABC News over the weekend, it was divulged that Santos' legal battles had no end in sight. Amid multiple investigations, including into his finances, in the United States and Brazil, constituents are calling for the Long Island Republican to resign, and he is facing possible expulsion. 

Talks about the explosion began spreading after Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that Santos would be removed if he was found guilty of breaking the law. It is worth mentioning that the lawmaker has denied all claims of wrongdoing, stating, "I am not a criminal ... not here or in Brazil or any jurisdiction in the world."

However, shortly after he made that comment last month, it was reported that Brazilian prosecutors were looking into the revival of check fraud charges against him from when he was 19.

At the time, a representative of the Rio de Janeiro prosecutor's office stated that criminal lawyers intended to charge the now 34-year-old with two counts of alleged fraud, including the previously mentioned check forgery and theft. Per the rep, each count is punishable by up to five years in prison.

In spite of that, an official within the prosecutor's office claimed that Santos might only pay a fine if convicted. As for his punishment within the congressional district, Santos will be removed if a majority of the committee decides that he has done something wrong.

The process involves filing a recommendation to the full House for one or more penalties, such as reprimand, expulsion, censure, fine, or any other befitting sanction chosen by the committee.

As it stands, each chamber of Congress has the power to remove a seated member for engaging in "disorderly behavior" under The Constitution. For Santos to get expelled, the House has to provide a two-thirds vote. 

With the current makeup of the House — 212 Democrats and 222 Republicans, about a third of Republicans would have to vote with Democrats to successfully expel the embattled lawmaker. So far, Santos has not disclosed any plan to step down.