Ex-Fundraiser for George Santos Receives His Sentence

A former George Santos fundraiser will spend a year behind bars after impersonating then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s top aide to solicit donations and commit credit card fraud in one of many scandals linked to Santos.

Key Insights

Sam Miele was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for impersonating McCarthy’s chief of staff and committing wire fraud.
Miele’s scheme involved creating a fake email and charging donors’ credit cards without authorization, totaling about $100,000.
The fundraiser is the first of several Santos associates to be sentenced, with Santos himself awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to fraud charges.
Judge Joanna Seybert acknowledged Miele’s remorse but emphasized the seriousness of undermining trust in the political system.

Fraudulent Fundraising Scheme Exposed

Sam Miele, who worked as a campaign fundraiser for former U.S. Representative George Santos, received his sentence in federal court for an elaborate scheme that undermined the integrity of political fundraising. Miele admitted to impersonating Dan Meyer, who served as chief of staff to then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, to solicit campaign contributions. The fraud included setting up fake email accounts and charging donors’ credit cards without authorization, actions that ultimately netted approximately $100,000 in fraudulent transactions.

During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert described the case as “extremely serious” despite Miele’s attorney arguing for leniency. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of more than two years, but Judge Seybert ultimately imposed a term of one year and one day. This specific sentence length was chosen deliberately to allow Miele to avoid placement in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, known for its harsh conditions, while still reflecting the gravity of the crimes committed.

Remorse and Responsibility

Miele demonstrated contrition during the court proceedings, taking full responsibility for his actions. “What I did was wrong. Plain and simple,” Miele told the court. His attorney, Kevin Marino, portrayed Miele as a young person who had fallen under the influence of Santos, describing his client as a “young ingenue led astray” and noting that “this is what happens when you associate with the wrong people.”

As part of his guilty plea to federal wire fraud, Miele agreed to pay restitution and forfeit funds gained through the scheme. The courts also required him to make a significant payment to a campaign contributor as part of the plea agreement. Miele has been ordered to surrender to authorities on July 11, 2025, to begin serving his sentence, providing him time to arrange his affairs before incarceration.

Wider Web of Deception

Miele’s sentencing represents just one domino to fall in the expansive fraud case surrounding George Santos’ brief but scandal-plagued political career. Nancy Marks, Santos’ former campaign treasurer, has also pleaded guilty to fraud conspiracy and awaits sentencing. The most high-profile defendant, Santos himself, has admitted to stealing credit card numbers, using campaign funds for personal expenses, falsely collecting unemployment benefits, and lying about his personal wealth.

Santos gained notoriety by flipping a congressional district in 2022, but his tenure was cut short when he was expelled from the U.S. House less than a year after taking office. The expulsion came after a House Ethics Committee report detailed extensive fabrications about his background, education, and financial history. Santos awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to identity theft and wire fraud, among other charges.