-
Rep. George Santos was charged with theft in Pennsylvania in 2017, Politico reported.
-
The charges were associated with bad checks composed to dog breeders in an Amish part of the state.
-
Santos’s previous charity deal with animals has actually come under increasing analysis.
Republican Rep. George Santos’s declares about his previous charity deal with rescued animals have actually come under increased analysis today, with increasingly more individuals accusing him of keeping thousands of dollars meant for animals.
But the congressman was really charged with theft in Pennsylvania back in 2017 and implicated of composing countless dollars of bad checks that had notes like “puppies” on the memo lines, Politico reported Thursday.
Tiffany Bogosian, a New York lawyer who went to junior high with Santos, informed the outlet she assisted him handle the charge after they had actually reconnected. Bogosian verified information in a call with Insider.
Santos constructed $15,125 in checks to dog breeders in an Amish location of the state, Politico reported. Days later on, a family pet store in Staten Island, Pet Oasis, held an adoption occasion in combination with Friends of Pets United, a family pet charity Santos has actually declared to have actually established, according to Politico and the store’s Instagram page.
In 2020, Santos asked Bogosian for help attending to the theft charges, informing her that his checkbook had actually been taken so he had actually called the bank to cancel the checkbook prior to they had actually been cashed, triggering the checks to bounce.
The November 2017 checks, which were obtained by Politico, have the name “George A Santos” on them, however no address or contact details. The memo lines state “puppies” or “puppy,” and the signatures on each check all appear various.
Bogosian informed Insider she did not believe Santos was the most reliable individual, due to what he resembled when they were younger.
“He would constantly lie, about silly things,” she said. Still, she chose to help him since of their past and since the story had actually ignited her interest. Now she no longer thinks his story that the checkbook had actually been taken.
The theft by deceptiveness charge was eventually dropped and was expunged from Santos’s record in 2021, an agent for the York County District Court verified to Politico. A factor for the charge being expunged was not provided.
An agent for Santos and York County did not right away react to Insider’s ask for remark.
Bogosian has actually formerly stepped forward with doubtful habits by Santos. She informed The Washington Post last month Santos had actually attempted to get her customer to invest with Harbor City Capital, a company he operated at that the SEC has actually referred to as a Ponzi plan.
The animal charity allegations are amongst the lots of debates worrying Santos’s past. The congressman has actually confessed to lying about or exaggerating his work and education history and personal background.
The FBI is also investigating if Santos scammed a military veteran by filching funds that were meant for his passing away service dog, which the congressman has actually rejected.
Read the initial short article on Business Insider