George Santos was charged with theft in 2017 over several bad checks written in his name to dog breeders.
According to a new report from Politico, the charge, from Pennsylvania’s Amish Country, was connected to $15,125 in checks made out for “puppies” days before he put on an adoption event through his animal charity at a Staten Island pet store.
Santos claimed someone had stolen his checkbook and his record was expunged with the charges dismissed.
According to People,
Attorney Tiffany Bogosian told Politico, in the latest story surrounding Santos, that she tried to help him with some legal advice in February 2020 after he visited her office and claimed that someone he knew was responsible for the disappearance of his checkbook.
At the time, Santos asked for help and told Bogosian that NYPD officers served him with an extradition warrant in connection with the Pennsylvania theft charge, she said.
Bogosian later sent an email on Santos’ behalf, saying
He received four check books for the account at his request from the TD BANK branch he banked with in Queens, NY, and of the four one went missing …immediately called his bank upon learning 1/4 check books was missing…
As such no checks were ever cashed or presented against his account due to his cancellation of all checks linked to this account.
The account was closed on March 3, 2018, for personal reasons unrelated to any alleged fraud on his account (banking preference).”
Santos reportedly told prosecutors in Pennsylvania that he “worked for the S.E.C.,” and convinced them to drop the charges.
The embattled Congressman is already facing several probes, including another dog-related one. Reports say that Santos allegedly scammed a Navy veteran out of $3,000 meant for his ailing service dog, which he has denied.
George Santos Was Once Accused of Stealing Puppies Days Before His Animal Charity Held Adoption Event https://t.co/x09ms7fXwc
— People (@people) February 9, 2023
(Photos, YouTube; via People)
