Latest news with #FederalProsecutors
Forbes
5 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
A Defiant George Santos Reports To Prison
WEST ISLIP, NEW YORK - AUGUST 19: Former U.S. Rep. George Santos gives a statement after a court ... More hearing on August 19, 2024 in West Islip, New York. Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft weeks before his federal trial was set to begin. His sentencing has been scheduled for February 7, and he faces more than six years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. Santos owes at least $370,000 in restitution. He was expelled from Congress in 2023, becoming the sixth member in the chamber's history to be ousted by colleagues. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) The short and disgraceful political career of former NY Congressman George Santos has officially ended with his reporting to prison on July 25th. Before he was even sworn in as a member of Congress, the media was filled with allegations that he had lied about his personal history while campaigning and had committed a variety of white-collar crimes unrelated to his campaign. Federal prosecutors initially charged him with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives in 2023, but five months later, after further investigation, one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, two counts of wire fraud, two counts of materially making false statements to the Federal Election Commission, two counts of falsifying records submitted to obstruct the Federal Election Commission, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of access device fraud were added to the charges against him. Meanwhile Congress did its own investigation of the crimes alleged to have been committed by Santos and on November 17, 2023 issued its report concluding that Santos had knowingly violated federal laws including campaign finance laws and had misused campaign funds for his personal benefit including Botox treatments. Less than a month later, on December 1, 2023 the House of Representative voted to expel George Santos. Santos was only the sixth member of the House of Representatives to be expelled from office with three of those expulsions of congressmen who had supported and fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War. The vote to expel Santos was 311-114 with 112 Republicans voting against the expulsion and 105 Republicans voting to expel. Facing sentences of more than twenty years on just the money laundering charge, Santos' attorneys negotiated a plea bargain by which Santos pleaded guilty to just two charges, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Santos was sentenced on April 25, 2025 to the maximum sentence under the sentencing guidelines of 87 months, which he began serving on July 25th. However, George Santos showed no remorse and did not go quietly off to prison in the days prior to his starting his sentence. He posted a series of tweets on X and posted videos on the video sharing platform Cameo that allows fans to purchase personalized messages from celebrities, athletes, influencers and others right up until the day of his surrender, charging a minimum of $300 for each video. Most fittingly, his final tweet was done almost thirty years to the day that the movie Clueless was released. In the tweet he said: 'Well darlings… The curtain falls, the spotlight dims and the rhinestones are packed. From the halls of Congress to the chaos of cable news what a ride it's been! Was it messy? Always. Glamorous? Occasionally. Honest? I tried… most days. To my supporters: You made this wild political cabaret worth it. To my critics: Thanks for the free press. I may be leaving the stage (for now), but trust me legends never truly exit. Forever fabulously yours, George
Bloomberg
23-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Justice Department Prepares Crackdown on Trump Tariff Violators
Federal prosecutors are laying the groundwork to criminally charge companies and individuals that try to evade US tariffs as President Donald Trump readies a fresh round of levies next week. American customs officials have long sought to thwart attempts to avoid duties using relatively common schemes like changing the country of origin on imports or misclassifying goods on forms. However, such issues historically have been handled through fines or civil settlements and seldom by criminal prosecution.
South China Morning Post
23-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
New York man built and stashed home-made bombs across the city, prosecutors say
A New York man accused of plotting to set off home-made explosives he had stashed at sites across Manhattan has been indicted, federal prosecutors said. Michael Gann, 55, built at least seven improvised explosive devices last month with chemicals he bought online in May and took the bombs to Manhattan, according to an indictment handed up on Tuesday by a grand jury. Gann, of Long Island, stored some on the devices on the rooftops of adjoining residential buildings and threw another onto the subway tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge, prosecutors said. No one was injured by any of the devices. Gann was arrested in early June near the buildings, and authorities said he had one of the devices in his possession. Gann put 'countless lives at risk,' Jay Clayton, the interim US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement. Gann is charged with attempted destruction of property by means of explosives, transport of explosive materials, and unlawful possession of destructive devices. He could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
The Guardian
23-07-2025
- The Guardian
Man charged with making and trying to detonate explosives in New York City
A man has been charged for allegedly crafting and attempting to detonate homemade explosives in New York City. Federal prosecutors say 55-year-old Michael Gann, who lives in Inwood, New York, used chemicals bought online last month to manufacture multiple explosive devices. Authorities allege Gann transported the bombs to Manhattan, where he stored several on connected rooftops of residential buildings in the SoHo neighborhood and hurled one on to subway tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge. Though no injuries were reported, officials underscored the potential danger. One of the devices Gann created reportedly held about an ounce of explosive material, roughly 600 times what is legally allowed in consumer-grade fireworks. 'As alleged, Michael Gann built explosive devices, stored them on a rooftop in SoHo, and threw one on to the subway tracks – putting countless lives at risk,' said Jay Clayton, interim US attorney for the southern district of New York, in a statement. A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Gann, charging him with attempted destruction of property using explosives, transporting explosive materials and illegally possessing destructive devices. According to prosecutors, if found guilty on all charges and sentenced consecutively, he could face up to 40 years behind bars. The indictment details that in or around May 2025, Gann bought around 2lb of potassium perchlorate and 1lb of aluminum powder, both considered precursor ingredients for explosives. He also ordered more than 200 cardboard tubes and more than 50ft of fuse. Investigators claim Gann used the materials to create at least seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs). After receiving his shipments, he allegedly combined the chemicals, ignited a sample and caused an explosion before assembling the IEDs. Additionally, investigators say Gann conducted internet searches related to explosives and firearms, which included: 'will i pass a background check', 'gun background check test', '3D gun printing', 'gun stores', 'chlorine bomb', '1/2 stick dynamite' and 'how to make flash powder from household items', among several others. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion He was taken into custody 'on or around June 5' near the SoHo buildings where he had reportedly stashed some of the devices. A seventh bomb was found on his person at the time of the arrest, according to the indictment. Authorities said Gann misled officers during questioning, falsely claiming he had discarded the explosives and related materials in a dumpster.
Washington Post
08-07-2025
- Washington Post
Second defendant pleads guilty in Minnesota voter fraud case
MINNEAPOLIS — The second of two defendants from Nevada who were charged in Minnesota with conspiracy to commit voter registration fraud pleaded guilty Tuesday, federal prosecutors announced. Ronnie Williams, 58, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino in St. Paul. Court records don't say whether there was a formal plea agreement.
