Alleged George Santos scam victims speak out

  เวลาปล่อย:2023-03-15

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Alleged George Santos scam victims speak out

Santos is under investigation by the House Ethics committee.

Embattled Rep. George Santos has been under fire from nearly the moment he was elected last year and is nowunder investigationover possible ethics violations.

Constituents, watchdog groups, and several Washington D.C. leaders including members of his own Republican party, have chastised him forlyingabout his previous jobs, and even his religion.

But for some people who interacted with Santos in the past, and alleged to have been scammed by him, his lies were personal.

In this Jan. 5, 2023, file photo, Rep. George Santos looks on as the House of Representatives continues voting for new speaker at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C.

Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

Richard Osthoff, a Navy veteran, told Impact x Nightline, he received nothing fromSantos charity in 2016 after Santos promised to raise moneyfor the vets sick pit bull Sapphire. The dog would later die from its illness.

Everything about him is fake, phony, horrible, destructive, [and] hurtful. He doesnt represent the values of our country, Osthoff told ABC News Rachel Scott.

Impact x Nightline shares Osthoffs story and others who claim they were lied to by Santos alleged scams inan episode now streaming on Hulu.

Its painful for me to be in front of cameras rehashing it all over again. I dont want to go through this, but somebody had to say something, Osthoff said.

The veteran says he was struggling with depression during his eight-year service with the Navy before he was honorably discharged. Osthoff said the loss of purpose set him spiraling.

But Sapphire helped change his life, according to Osthoff.

She would know when I was going through a mood swing. Shed wake me up when I would have a nightmare. Whenever Id start getting really manic, or depressed, she would just be all over me. I couldnt ignore her, he said.

Osthoff would end up homeless and in 2016 found out that Sapphire needed surgery costing $3,000 for a life-threatening medical condition.

Thats when Osthoff said a veterinarian technician gave him a tip about a non-profit foundation called Friends of Pets United, or FOPU, run by a man named Anthony Devolder.

He said Devolder, whose full name Ostoff later found out is George Anthony Devolder Santos, promised to raise money to help pay for the cost of the surgery.

Osthoff said aside from one phone call, he communicated with Santos via text messages about the fundraiser, which he said was a success.

However, Osthoff said Santos never gave him a dime and became aggressive in his messages anytime he tried to follow up.

I am a well known and public person. I have done rescues for many years and have a very reputable name for myself, according a text Ostroff says he received from Santos. I dont benefit from a dime! Matter [of] fact Im very well off myself and I put in 30% of my annual income to FOPU.

I didnt mean anything to him. But that dog meant everything to me. Hes soulless, Osthoff said.

In January, Osthoff learned that FOPU never filed paperwork with the IRS to be a 501(c)(3) charity. This was around the same time he learned that the person he knew aas Anthony Devolder was the freshman Congressman from Long Island.

Osthoff said he felt a chill up his spine when he saw Santos in the news after he assumed office, but also felt some relief. He told ABC News he has spoken to the FBI about his incident.

Now I know who he is. Now I can finally get the police involved if its not too late, he said.

A source close to the GoFundMe situation confirmed to ABC News that Santos ran the account to help Sapphire.

When asked about Osthoffs allegations in February, Santos denied ever meeting Osthoff.

I have no clue, I dont know what its about, he said.

Osthoff isnt the only one who says he was wronged by Rep. Santos.

Yasser Rabello told Impact x Nightline that he created a WhatsApp group with people who knew or interacted with Santos in the past. Rabello lived with Santos and his mother in Queens 10 years ago and said Santos would constantly lie to him about his work and his college education.

Do you think that hes dangerous? ABC News Rachel Scott asked.

Not really dangerous, but as long as he stays in Congress, who knows what kind of power he can acquire, Rabello said. And maybe he can become dangerous in the future. Thats why we [are] trying to stop him as soon as we can.

Adrianna Parizzi, who lives in Brazil, is one of the members of that WhatsApp group and told ABC News she met Santos and his mother while they were living in Brazil 15 years ago. Parizzi alleged that Santos stole from her, but said she didnt go to the police because she feared she wouldnt be taken seriously.

ABC News has not been able to verify the alleged theft.

Parizzi said she was shocked that Santos was elected into office.

I always thought the United States was a superpower? How come they didnt see? They didnt check his lies? she said.

Santos declined to respond to comments to ABC News about Rabello and Parizzis allegations. He told the New York Post that Parizzis contentions were false.

Despite his denials, Santos, who has voluntarily and temporarily stepped down from his House committees, is already the subject of several probes into his alleged scams and ethics violations.

Brazilian authorities revived a 2008 case that alleged Santos forged checks. The Department of Justice, New York Attorney Generals office, Nassau County DA, Queens County DA, and Federal Election Commission are looking into allegations of wrongdoing including fraud.

Federal authorities are looking into public filings by George Santos amid questions about the source of his wealth. In 2020, he reported he had a salary of $55,000 and listed no assets in publicly available filings. But in 2022, he valued his assets between $2.6 million and $11.25 million.

Last month, theHouses Ethics Committee announcedit is looking into whether Santos violated any laws or regulations including whether he engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual seeking employment in his congressional office.

Santos said he will comply with the investigation but has denied any wrongdoing.

MORE: George Santos says he will comply 100% with House ethics investigation

Richard Osthoff talks to Impact x Nightline about how George Santos allegedly cheated him out of money for his dogs medical treatment.

Osthoff said he hopes that Santos faces the consequences of his alleged actions.

He needs help. If sitting in a cell or sitting in a hospital room for a couple of years doesnt help him, I dont know what will, he said.

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