Former Rep. George Santos Puts The Bureau Of Prisons On Notice Ahead Of His Arrival

George Santos is bracing for prison and warning the Bureau of Prisons in advance.

Ahead of serving his over seven-year sentence, the former congressman claims that any harm done to him behind bars would spark serious repercussions. His bold statement came shortly after his sentencing in a Long Island courtroom, where he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft.

George Santos, who won a seat in New York's 3rd district in 2022, was expelled from Congress less than a year into his term following a string of scandals and criminal charges.

The 36-year-old sentenced to over seven years for wire fraud and identity theft is expected to report to prison on July 25. Ahead of his incarceration, Santos admitted he is afraid of what could happen behind bars.

Santos expressed serious concern for his safety, saying the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) would have a serious problem on its hands if he were harmed in any way. 

TMZ reports that he claimed that if he is physically or sexually assaulted in custody, the fallout would be significant, suggesting his legal team would go public immediately.

"We know in theory the BOP is for the well-being of inmates, but we know in practice a lot of sh-t happens to inmates. I don't want to be a BOP statistic," he explained.

With just weeks left before he reports to federal prison, Santos is not staying quiet and is doing everything he can to avoid a worst-case scenario behind bars.

The former politician states that he has requested protective custody through his legal team while also pushing for a possible pardon, clemency, or sentence reduction.

Santos admitted to feeling anxious and mentally scattered as his surrender date approaches. He claims he is avoiding self-defense training, saying he is a nonviolent person and has no interest in learning to fight his way through prison.

Santos says he is keeping a low profile and spending time with family while he still can. With fears mounting about what prison might hold, Santos admits to being "all over the place" mentally.

Santos was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison last week after pleading guilty to wire fraud and identity theft in a Long Island courtroom.

The Blast reported that he admitted to using a campaign donor's credit card in 2022 to make unauthorized purchases. His guilty plea came after months of denying wrongdoing and calling the case a witch hunt.

The judge handed down an 87-month sentence well above the two-year minimum he faced, signaling a tougher stance on the ex-lawmaker's crimes. 

Santos was also ordered to pay over $370,000 in restitution and give up additional assets, pushing the total financial cost to $580,000.

Santos wants to serve his time in solitary confinement, claiming his safety would be in danger in the general population following his 87-month prison sentence. On the eve of his sentencing, Santos voiced his fears that his past political stance against gang violence could put a target on his back behind bars.

Santos said he planned to request isolation for his protection formally. While it is unclear whether prison officials will grant the request, reactions to his sentencing spread quickly online, and many were not sympathetic.

Critics flooded X with harsh comments, mocking his fall from grace. One joked, "That will complete his 2 terms," while another suggested, "He'll be dropping the [soap emoji] a lot…" 

Some brought up his previous scandals, with one user writing, "Shouldn't have stolen puppies from the Amish if he wanted any public sympathy." 

Santos' legal troubles deepened in 2023 when the FBI and Justice Department hit the disgraced former congressman with a long list of federal charges.

The ex-lawmaker reportedly faced accusations ranging from credit card fraud and falsifying credentials to misusing campaign funds. But one of the most shocking allegations came from a disabled Iraq War veteran who claimed Santos stole money raised for his dying service dog.

Veteran Richard Osthoff said the incident happened in 2016 while he was homeless and living in a tent on the side of a New Jersey highway with his dog, Sapphire. After Sapphire was diagnosed with a stomach tumor, Osthoff struggled to cover the $3,000 needed for her surgery.

That is when he claimed Santos, going by the alias Anthony Devolder, stepped in under the guise of helping. But instead of following through, Osthoff claimed the money disappeared, and Sapphire eventually died.

Will George Santos get his solitary confinement?