Nancy Marks.Photo:CommunityLibrary/YouTube

Nancy Marks

CommunityLibrary/YouTube

The former treasurer for embattled Republican Rep.George Santoswill plead guilty Thursday afternoon to at least one felony charge, according to court filings.

Marks, ABC reports, resigned from Santos' team in January and the specific felony charge (or charges) against her remain under seal.

New York Rep. George Santos speaks to media on May 17, 2023, about a House Ethics investigation into his conduct.Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty

Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., speaks to reporters after a vote to send a resolution to the Ethics panel in an attempt to expel him from the House, on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in Washington, DC.

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty

Santos, meanwhile,pleaded not guilty to 13 criminal countsin federal court in May after investigatorsunsealed an indictment hours earlier, which 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.

Santos surrendered to federal authorities at a suburban Long Island courthouse ahead of his arraignment and was released on $500,000 bond.

If convicted, the freshman Republican congressman faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the top counts, according to the Justice Department.

George Santos.MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mandatory Credit: Photo by MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (13741019b) Republican Representative of New York George Santos, who is currently under federal investigation, leaves following a House Republican Conference meeting at the Republican National Committee in Washington, DC, USA, 25 January 2023. Republican Representative of New York George Santos, Washington, USA - 25 Jan 2023

Inan unsealed indictment, federal prosecutors say Santos allegedly “devised and executed a scheme” aimed at defrauding donors to his 2022 political campaign.

That scheme, prosecutors allege, included applying for and receiving unemployment benefits at the height of the pandemic — while he was employed and running a Congressional campaign. The fraud continued, the indictment adds, when Santos allegedly began pocketing campaign contributions to buy designer clothing and pay off his personal debts.

Santos was elected in November to represent a New York district made up of parts of Long Island and Queens.

He became the subject of controversy soon after, whenTheNew York Timesreported that he had misled voters about everything from his level of education and previous jobs to family ties to the Holocaust.

Rep. George Santos arrives to the Capitol for a procedural vote on a motion to vacate against House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty

Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., arrives to the U.S. Capitol for a procedural vote on a motion to vacate against Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty

In January, Santos told colleagues he wouldtemporarily resignfrom his assignments on the Small Business and Science Committees while various investigations into his past play out.

Despite the ongoing investigations, the freshman lawmakerfiled paperwork for his 2024 reelectioncampaign in March to keep his District 3 seat, according to theFederal Election Commission website.

source: people.com