Authorities arrested a Texas man Wednesday and charged him with trying to defraud former Rep. George Santos and three others, according to reports and an affidavit.
Hector Medina Jr. of El Paso “knowingly and intentionally” attempted to defraud four individuals between June 2023 and August 2023 by making “false promises that they would: Ta” [Medina] There is a possibility that detection of crimes will disappear in exchange for large sums of money.'' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Affidavit It was reportedly filed in the Eastern District of New York and shared with NBC News. According to her affidavit, Medina made multiple illegal interstate wire transfers by sending text messages and videos to “the phone number of the U.S. Representative for New York's 3rd Congressional District (“Individual-1'').” He is said to have solicited him.
George Santos, who is not named in the affidavit, was a lawmaker representing the designated district during the specific period of Medina's alleged crimes. Also, “[o]“On May 9, 2023, Individual-1 was charged with multiple felonies,” the affidavit states.a 23 count charge in October 2023 It later charged Santos with wire fraud, money laundering, identity theft and other charges. 13 count charge in May 2023according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Medina was arrested Wednesday in El Paso. according to NBC News. (Related article: Federal authorities say Ohio man stole $10 million while pretending to be Emirati crown prince)
El Pasoan Hector Medina Jr. is accused of texting George Santos, asking him to send him $900,000 in exchange for dropping the charges. https://t.co/yFkhMLTXC3
— KVIA ABC-7 News (@KVIAABC7News) March 6, 2024
Medina, whose pseudonym is “Michael Soto,” claimed to be cooperating with prosecutors and judges across the U.S., according to a transcript of a video Medina allegedly sent to Santos that was shared in the affidavit. That's what it means. The recording reportedly read in part: “Everything is taken down and the evidence about you is deleted and made to disappear.”
According to the affidavit, Medina allegedly sent numerous emails to Santos, including one that read, “All I need is for you or someone to wire me 900,000.” It is said that The affidavit did not say that Mr. Santos responded to Mr. Medina's messages.
Medina also allegedly solicited $1 million from a “publicly known actor” and convicted felon, according to the affidavit.
Medina was convicted in El Paso of theft in 2016 and fraud in 2023, according to the affidavit. Medina reportedly sent fraudulent checks to fraud victims as part of court-ordered restitution following his second conviction.
