ElectionsFraudGeneral NewsGeorge SantosIndictmentsNew YorkU.S. News Ex-fundraiser for George Santos pleads guilty to posing as congressional aide to raise campaign cash by Sophia Chen November 16, 2023 written by Sophia Chen November 16, 2023 4 comments Bookmark 32 A former fundraiser for U.S. Rep. George Santos has entered a guilty plea to a federal wire fraud charge, in which he confessed to posing as a high-ranking congressional aide while raising campaign funds for the embattled New York Republican. Sam Miele, aged 27, faced allegations of impersonating Dan Meyer, who at the time served as the chief of staff for Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the then-Republican minority leader. While it remains unconfirmed whether Meyer was indeed the aide Miele impersonated, the case highlights the serious consequences of fraudulent actions in the political arena. Miele, who had been indicted on four counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, is set to be sentenced on April 30. According to estimated sentencing guidelines, he could potentially face more than two years in prison, as stated by a spokesperson from the U.S. attorney’s office. In addition to wire fraud, Miele acknowledged committing access device fraud by making unauthorized charges to credit cards, totaling approximately $100,000. These unauthorized transactions were used to fund political campaigns, including that of Santos, as well as for personal expenses. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “The defendant used fraud and deceit to steal more than $100,000 from his victims, funneling this money into the campaign committees of candidates for the House, and into his own pockets. Defrauding potential political contributors undermines our democracy, and we will vigorously prosecute such conduct.” Miele has agreed to make restitution payments of approximately $109,000, forfeit an additional $69,000, and make a $470,000 payment to a campaign contributor, as part of his plea agreement. This case also marks the second plea deal involving a campaign aide to Santos in a federal investigation. Nancy Marks, the ex-treasurer for Santos, previously pleaded guilty to a fraud conspiracy charge, implicating Santos in a scheme to manipulate his campaign finance reports with fabricated loans and donors. Santos himself faces a 23-count federal indictment, alleging identity theft of campaign donors and unauthorized credit card charges. The indictment accuses Santos of transferring some of the embezzled funds to his personal bank account and using the rest to bolster his campaign finances. Additionally, he is accused of falsely reporting a $500,000 loan to his campaign when he had not made any such contribution and had minimal funds in his account. This alleged deception aimed to secure financial support from the Republican Party. Santos has maintained his innocence, pledging to clear his name. Marks’ willingness to testify against him could significantly impact his case, although it remains uncertain if Miele will also testify against Santos. As this legal battle unfolds, Santos continues to serve as a representative for parts of Queens and Long Island, surviving a recent expulsion vote in the House. The outcome of both his criminal case and the House Ethics Committee investigation will undoubtedly have significant implications for his political future. In an ironic twist, Santos pointed out that Miele’s fraudulent actions revolved around the name “Dan Meyer,” which is notably “Dan Meyer” spelled backward. Despite this bizarre turn of events, the seriousness of the charges underscores the importance of maintaining integrity in the political sphere. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Campaign Fundraising ImpersonationWhat were the charges against Sam Miele?What was the outcome of Sam Miele’s guilty plea?How did Sam Miele commit access device fraud?What was the role of Dan Meyer in this case?What consequences did Nancy Marks, the ex-treasurer for George Santos, face?What charges does George Santos himself face?What impact could the willingness of witnesses like Nancy Marks and Sam Miele have on George Santos’ case?How did George Santos respond to the allegations?What political repercussions has George Santos faced?More about Campaign Fundraising Impersonation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Campaign Fundraising Impersonation What were the charges against Sam Miele? Sam Miele faced charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for impersonating a high-ranking congressional aide. What was the outcome of Sam Miele’s guilty plea? Sam Miele pleaded guilty to the federal wire fraud charge. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30 and could potentially face more than two years in prison. How did Sam Miele commit access device fraud? Sam Miele committed access device fraud by making unauthorized charges to credit cards, totaling about $100,000. These funds were used for political campaigns and personal expenses. What was the role of Dan Meyer in this case? Dan Meyer was the alias used by Sam Miele to impersonate a high-ranking congressional aide while soliciting donations. It remains unconfirmed whether Meyer was the actual aide impersonated. What consequences did Nancy Marks, the ex-treasurer for George Santos, face? Nancy Marks, the ex-treasurer for George Santos, pleaded guilty to a fraud conspiracy charge and implicated Santos in manipulating campaign finance reports with fabricated loans and donors. What charges does George Santos himself face? George Santos is facing a 23-count federal indictment, including charges of identity theft of campaign donors and unauthorized credit card charges. He is also accused of falsely reporting a $500,000 loan to his campaign. What impact could the willingness of witnesses like Nancy Marks and Sam Miele have on George Santos’ case? Their willingness to testify could significantly impact George Santos’ case, potentially affecting the outcome of his legal proceedings. How did George Santos respond to the allegations? George Santos has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and has expressed his intention to clear his name. What political repercussions has George Santos faced? Despite the legal challenges, George Santos survived an expulsion vote in the House, with most Republicans and some Democrats opposing the measure while investigations proceed. More about Campaign Fundraising Impersonation Former fundraiser pleads guilty to wire fraud Impersonation of congressional aide in campaign fundraising Wire fraud and identity theft charges for Sam Miele Nancy Marks’ plea deal and implications for George Santos George Santos’ federal indictment and charges George Santos’ response to allegations Political repercussions for George Santos You Might Be Interested In U.S. Justice Department Advocates for 33-Year Sentence for Former Proud Boys Chief Enrique Tarrio in January 6 Inquiry Ransomware Attacks Expose Sensitive Information of Students, Sparking Concern President Biden Urges Stronger Gun Restrictions on Anniversary of Uvalde, Texas, School Massacre DeSantis shies away from Trump criticism at Iowa Republican dinner where both are speaking Annual Oil Dividends in Alaska: A Double-Edged Sword for State Residents An African American Woman Faced Charges After Suffering a Miscarriage, Highlighting Post-Roe Pregnancy Risks campaign fundscongressional aideelectionsFraudGeneral NewsGeorge Santosguilty pleaIdentity theftimpersonationIndictmentslegal case.New YorkPolitical Ethicspolitical financepolitical scandalSentencingwire fraud Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Sophia Chen Follow Author Sophia Chen is a lifestyle journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the world of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. She enjoys exploring new fashion and beauty trends, and she is always on the lookout for new products and experiences to share with her readers. previous post Rep. George Santos Will Not Seek Re-Election Amid Damning Ethics Report Alleging Lawbreaking next post George Santos pleads not guilty to new fraud charges in New York You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... December 28, 2023 4 comments JournalistJoe November 16, 2023 - 8:21 pm man, this Miele guy messed up big time. impersonating a congressional aide? dats sum crazy stuff. gots to pay 4 dat. Reply FinanceGuru77 November 17, 2023 - 6:42 am wire fraud ain’t no joke. it’s a serious crime dat can land u in prison. not worth it! Reply CryptoKing12 November 17, 2023 - 8:13 am political scandals like dis don’t help no one. gotta keep it clean in politics, ya know? Reply CarLover45 November 17, 2023 - 11:19 am this ain’t got nuthin to do wit cars, but it’s still a wild story. people do strange things for money in politics. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ