Another player in the George Santos scandal is heading to prison for deception and fraud. Sam Miele, who helped raise funds for the disgraced former Congressman’s campaign, will spend over a year behind bars after impersonating a top McCarthy aide to dupe donors.
At a glance:
• Sam Miele, former Santos campaign fundraiser, sentenced to one year and one day in prison
• Miele impersonated Kevin McCarthy’s Chief of Staff to trick potential donors
• He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and unauthorized credit card charges totaling $100,000
• Miele must pay approximately $109,000 in restitution and forfeit $69,000
• His fraud was part of the larger Santos scandal that led to the congressman’s expulsion
Fraudster Gets Prison Time For Campaign Scheme
Sam Miele, a former fundraiser for ousted congressman George Santos, received a one-year-and-one-day prison sentence for impersonating a high-ranking congressional aide to fraudulently solicit campaign donations. The sentence comes after Miele admitted to posing as Dan Meyer, who served as Chief of Staff to then-House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, to convince potential donors of his legitimacy and importance.
Miele pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud for the impersonation scheme and admitted to charging donors’ credit cards without authorization, accumulating approximately $100,000 in fraudulent transactions. His actions were part of a broader web of deception surrounding the Santos campaign, which ultimately resulted in the congressman’s expulsion from the House after less than a year in office.
Remorse and Restitution
During his sentencing hearing, Miele expressed remorse for his actions, telling the court, “What I did was wrong. Plain and simple.” The disgraced fundraiser further acknowledged his poor judgment, stating, “It was a terrible mistake,” as he faced the consequences of his fraudulent fundraising tactics.
As part of his sentence, Miele agreed to pay approximately $109,000 in restitution and forfeit an additional $69,000 in ill-gotten gains. He will also make a separate $470,000 payment to a campaign contributor, significantly increasing the financial penalties for his criminal behavior.
Kevin Marino, Miele’s attorney, attempted to deflect some blame toward Santos during the proceedings, telling the court, “This is what happens when you associate with the wrong people.” Prosecutors had sought a harsher sentence of over two years in prison, but the judge reportedly considered Miele’s cooperation with investigators in determining the final sentence.
Part of Larger Santos Scandal
Miele’s conviction represents just one piece of the extensive fraud perpetrated by former Representative George Santos and his campaign team. Santos himself was expelled from Congress in December 2023, becoming only the sixth person ever removed from the U.S. House of Representatives, following numerous revelations about his fabricated life story and criminal activities.
Nancy Marks, Santos’ former campaign treasurer, has also reached a plea deal with prosecutors after admitting to a fraud conspiracy charge. Santos faces his own legal reckoning after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, with the disgraced politician admitting to stealing donors’ credit card numbers, misusing campaign funds for personal expenses, and fabricating his professional and personal background.
