Disgraced U.S. Congressman George Santos Concerned Crypto in Nigerian Prince-Like Scheme: NYT
George Santos, a first-term member of the Home of Representatives, is underneath indictment for 13 felonies, together with allegedly embezzling contributions from supporters, fraudulently accumulating unemployment checks and mendacity in disclosures to the Home. However certainly one of his more strange schemes, which concerned cryptocurrency, gave the impression to be impressed by the traditional Nigerian prince electronic mail scheme, in response to a New York Occasions report.
In response to a marketing campaign donor who spoke to the Occasions, Santos and two different males approached him claiming there was a rich Polish citizen who needed to purchase cryptocurrency however couldn’t as a result of his belongings had been frozen. The trio didn’t say why the belongings had been frozen, nor present the identify of the Polish investor, however needed the donor to create a restricted legal responsibility firm to assist them achieve entry to the funds.
The donor advised the Occasions he was struck by how a lot their pitch sounded just like the traditional Nigerian prince electronic mail rip-off during which a rich foreigner asks somebody for assist having access to frozen belongings. He requested for extra data, and Santos and associates requested the donor to signal a non-disclosure settlement. The donor then requested for modifications to the settlement, and the talks ended there.
The scheme concerned Santos, former Republican state assemblyman Michael LiPetri and Bryant Park Associates, an organization run by Republican donor Dominick Sartorio, in response to the report. LiPetri advised The Occasions that he was conscious of Santos’ efforts however wasn’t concerned “intimately” and stated no deal finally occurred.
A request for remark for this story despatched to Santos’ lawyer was not instantly returned.
Thirty-five yr previous Santos, who represents New York’s third congressional district, was arrested and charged with 13 felonies in March and pleaded not responsible.
The intersection of crypto and politics has just lately moved past regulatory discussions into extra detailed – and typically uncommon – territory. U.S. Democratic Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared in a Twitter Areas on Wednesday the place he lastly confirmed proudly owning bitcoin and known as the cryptocurrency a “foreign money of freedom.” He has additionally stated if elected, he would transfer to again the U.S. greenback with bitcoin and exempt bitcoin from taxes.