© Graeme Sloan / Sipa USA
(Fairton, NJ) – It was most definitely not the “summer of George” for former Congressman George Santos. And as the calendar heads toward fall, Santos is not exactly anticipating a banner end of 2025 either — as he’s cooling his heels in federal lockup down in South Jersey.
Santos, at the front-end of a seven-year prison term for fraud, said his conditions are poor at FCI Fairton — a medium-security prison for male inmates in Cumberland County. In a recent column for the South Shore Press, Santos listed off a series of complaints: including his interaction with a prison administrator. Santos said during a visit from said prison official, a “childish” moment occurred — the former congressman says the administrator dismissed ongoing complaints. Inmates could complain if their prison had “marble floors and a jacuzzi,” said the administrator — according to Santos.
Now six weeks into his prison stint, Santos noted he finds marble “cheap, gaudy, and tacky.” Still, that cheekiness aside, Santos said there are real, actionable problems at FCI Fairton — such as black mold, allegations of cover ups, and a long-standing air conditioning issue.
Convicted of fraud and other offenses, the 37-year-old Santos allegedly lied about his background, leading to a broader investigation. He was less-than-truthful about his heritage, past accomplishments, and academic achievements. In December of 2023 he was kicked out of Congress after serving under 12 months in office. Some have argued he never intended to win his seat in the first place — but rather wanted to raise campaign funds that he could later convert into spending money.
Eventually it all came to an end for Santos in August of last year when he plead guilty to wire fraud as well as identity theft. Prosecutors said Santos took campaign cash and used it for personal expenses. Now, Santos says he’s serving the role of observer — and holding public officials accountable. He argues even prison operators must honor their “titles and responsibilities.”
On July 25, Santos turned himself in and began his prison term. In a social media post, he wrote: “Well darlings… the curtain falls, the spotlight dims, and the rhinestones are packed.” A native of Queens, Santos is reportedly regularly penning essays from his cell in New Jersey.
The South Shore Column includes a vow from Santos, that he will “continue to share these dispatches from what I can only describe as my own personal hell here at FCI Fairton in South Jersey.”
The Daily News reported on Santos’ complaints, and provided a statement from prison officials. It reads, in part, they have no comment on “conditions of confinement for any incarcerated individual” — due to privacy concerns. But the statement does note “it is the mission of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), including the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Fairton to operate facilities that are safe, secure and humane.”
