BROOKLYN (CN) — Just two weeks after ex-U.S. Representative George Santos entered his own guilty plea in the Eastern District of New York, he returned to court in a starkly different capacity: as a victim.
The expelled congressman sat in the gallery Thursday while a Texas man admitted he schemed to extract money from Santos and other high-profile criminal defendants, including “That 70s Show” actor Danny Masterson, in exchange for efforts to get their cases dropped. Masterson was found guilty of rape in May.
“I understand my actions were ill advised,” Hector Medina said in court Thursday. “I accept full responsibility.”
The 37-year-old, who was arrested in March, sent texts, images and videos to Santos and others and falsely claimed he could arrange for the former congressman’s charges to be dropped in exchange for a large sum. “If you’re interested, I can get everything dropped, evidence that is on you removed, disappeared. Reach out to me if you’re interested,” Medina said in a July 2023 video sent to Santos.
Prosecutors say Medina, who used the alias Michael Soto — and even sent Santos and others a fake photo ID to be more convincing — hoped to use the proceeds of the scam to settle $100,000 in gambling debts, though Medina did not speak to that allegation on Thursday.
Medina 37-year-old faces up to 20 years in prison at his Dec. 30 sentencing.
Santos appeared in court clad in a navy blue suit just days before his own criminal trial was supposed to start in Long Island.
“This was the last pending issue I had as a member of Congress,” Santos told reporters after the hearing. “It felt like unfinished business.”
He pleaded guilty Aug. 19 to wire fraud and identity theft, putting to rest the legal saga stemming from the same allegations that garnered his December 2023 expulsion from Congress. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 7, 2025.
Santos added that he never responded to any of Medina’s messages or sent any money, but was happy the issue was wrapped up. “Today was more of closure for me,” he told reporters Thursday.
Santos also said he reported Medina to the Department of Justice as soon as he began receiving his messages, adding, “I don’t believe in circumventing the Department of Justice.”
In a final statement to reporters before leaving the courthouse, Santos said he remains “bullish for Trump” and thinks “he’s going to win regardless.”
Follow @NikaSchoonover
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