Ex-George Santos treasurer admits conspiracy, says pair faked loan, donors
Oct. 5, 2023
Santos’ former campaign treasurer Nancy
Marks is expected to plead guilty in federal court later Thursday to an
unspecified offense.
Lying Long Island Rep. George Santos’ former campaign treasurer pleaded guilty Thursday to a single count of fraud conspiracy in federal court — and admitted that she and Santos tried to burnish his war chest by reporting a fabricated loan and made-up donors.
Nancy Marks, 58, appeared before US District Judge Joanna Seybert in Central Islip court and admitted that the pair falsified financial reports to say that Santos loaned his own campaign $500,000.
Santos didn’t actually have that kind of money at the time and the duo fudged that record to woo would-be donors, including a Republican committee, prosecutors said.
Marks also said in a prepared statement that she had provided the Federal Election Commission with a fake list of people who had supposedly given money to the campaign.
“The donors, who are real people, didn’t give me permission to use their names,” she said in court,
Marks, a familiar figure in Long Island’s Republican political circles, faces up to five years in prison and a possible restitution fine. Her plea agreement includes a recommendation that she receive three-and-a-half to four years behind bars.
“Marks has admitted that she conspired with a congressional candidate to lie to the FEC and, by extension, the public about the financial state of the candidate’s campaign for New York’s Third Congressional District, falsely inflating the campaign’s reported receipts with non-existent contributions and loans,” US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace said in a statement.
Marks resigned in late January from the Santos campaign as federal investigators began examining the now-35-year-old’s expenditures during his successful 2022 run for Congress.
Specifically, she had has faced questions about the congressman’s unusual campaign filings, including a series of $199.99 expenses, just below the legal limit for disclosure.
Santos (R-NY), in turn, has sought to pin the blame for his unexplained finances on Marks, who he claims “went rogue.”
On Thursday, Marks attorney Ray Perini said Santos had “mentally seduced” his client, and said she’d be willing to testify against the lawmaker if asked by prosecutors to do so.
Santos faces a 13-count federal indictment centered on charges of money laundering and lying to Congress in an earlier financial disclosure.
Marks was a close confidant of Santos during his two bids for Congress.
She also appeared to have business ties to the 35-year-old congressman through a consulting firm, according to records from 2021.
Jay Jacobs, the Nassau County Democratic leader and state party chairman, predicted that Marks’ downfall could spell significant problems for Santos.
“It’s a devastating blow to George Santos. It’s another indication that he’s in big trouble,” Jacobs said.
“It’s also a big blow to the Republican parties in Nassau and Suffolk. Marks had been a treasurer to Lee Zeldin and other Republican candidates. Candidates who used her services should be nervous.”
Marks was not name-dropped explicitly in the indictment against Santos, but there was a description of a consultant accused of helping to fool donors into giving money that Santos allegedly utilized for personal reasons.
Among other things, prosecutors appear keen on learning more about the origins of a $700,000 loan Santos claimed to have given his campaign.
Marks resigned in late January from the
Santos campaign as federal investigators began examining the
now-35-year-old’s expenditures during his successful 2022 run for
Congress..
Santos has already pleaded not guilty to the array of charges pending against him.
When contacted by The Post Thursday about the case against Marks, Santos answered: “I am not aware of this. I’m too busy,” before hanging up the phone.
Santos is next slated to appear in court on Oct. 27.