A former campaign fundraiser for disgraced ex-congressman George Santos has been slapped with prison time for his role in a shocking impersonation scheme. Sam Miele will spend over a year behind bars after pretending to be a high-ranking congressional aide to solicit donations for Santos’ fraudulent campaign.
At a glance:
• Sam Miele was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for impersonating a top aide to Kevin McCarthy
• Miele pleaded guilty to wire fraud after soliciting donations under the false identity of Dan Meyer
• The former Santos fundraiser charged donors’ credit cards without authorization, totaling about $100,000
• Miele agreed to pay approximately $109,000 in restitution and forfeit $69,000
• His sentencing follows George Santos’ expulsion from Congress after his own guilty pleas to fraud charges
Fraudulent Fundraising Scheme Exposed
Sam Miele, who once worked as a fundraiser for former New York Representative George Santos, received his punishment in federal court after admitting to orchestrating an elaborate deception. The fraudster confessed to impersonating Dan Meyer, who served as Chief of Staff to then-House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, to trick donors into contributing to Santos’ campaign.
Federal prosecutors revealed that Miele’s scheme went beyond simple impersonation, as he also committed access device fraud by charging donors’ credit cards without proper authorization. The unauthorized charges totaled approximately $100,000, showing the extensive nature of his fraudulent activities during the Santos campaign.
And yet, for some reason, there are Republicans still hanging out with Santos and his crew. We need to do something about that…
Miele Expresses Remorse at Sentencing
During his court appearance, Miele offered a somber apology for his actions that contributed to one of the most bizarre political scandals in recent memory. “What I did was wrong. Plain and simple,” Miele told the judge.
The disgraced fundraiser continued his apology by adding, “It was a terrible mistake,” as he faced the consequences of his actions. His attorney, Kevin Marino, attempted to distance his client from the larger Santos scandal, telling the court, “This is what happens when you associate with the wrong people.”
Miele’s sentencing represents just one piece of the sprawling scandal surrounding George Santos, who was expelled from Congress last year in a rare vote that made him only the sixth representative ever removed from the chamber. Santos himself has pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, cementing his place in history as one of America’s most notorious political fraudsters.
The financial penalties against Miele are substantial, as he must pay approximately $109,000 in restitution, forfeit $69,000, and make a separate $470,000 payment to a campaign contributor. These financial consequences come on top of his prison sentence, highlighting the serious nature of campaign finance violations.
Another Santos campaign aide, Nancy Marks, has also entered into a plea deal with prosecutors, having admitted to a fraud conspiracy charge.
