George Santos 'Orchestrated' Credit Card Fraud Operation, Ex-roommate Claims

George Santos's ex-roommate has offered new accusations against the New York lawmaker, telling the Federal Bureau of Investigation that the controversial congressman taught him "how to skim card information and how to clone cards."

Santos's ex-roommate, Gustavo Ribeiro Trelha, said that the lawmaker also gave him "all the materials" and taught him how to place skimming devices and cameras on ATMS, according to Rolling Stone.

Trelha wrote in a letter that was obtained by Politico that he met Santos in 2016 when he rented a spare room in his Florida apartment.

He noted that Santos was using the name Anthony Devolder at the time, adding that Santos instructed him on using credit card cloning material.

He then flew him to Seattle and started stealing financial information for Santos. Trelha said that the deal was they would divide the collections 50-50.

Santos's ex-roommate was then arrested in 2017, telling the FBI that Santos visited him in jail and warned him "not to say anything about him."

The now-lawmaker allegedly also threatened his friends in Florida, leading him to lose contact with them as "they were all afraid of something happening to them."

George Santos's Ex-Roommate Declaration

Trelha wrote in his declaration that he was declaring that the person in charge of the "crime of credit card fraud" when he was arrested was Santos.

The declaration was sent by express mail and email to the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service New York Office.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York also received a copy of Trelha's declaration.

Trelha said in his declaration that he decided to contact law enforcement officials after he saw the newly elected congressman on television.

In his declaration, he noted that they met in the fall of 2016 on a Facebook group for Brazilians living in Orlando, Florida.

Trelha also added that Santos had a warehouse on Kirkham Road in Orlando to store the skimming equipment, with materials ranging from parts and printers to blank ATMs and credit cards, which could be used to place stolen information and accounts.

Trelha's declaration was the recent development in potential legal trouble that Santos is facing, who is already under fire for his several false statements on his educational, professional, and personal background.

George Santos's Credit Card Fraud Operation

George Santos was interviewed about the credit card fraud case, according to a childhood friend named Tiffany Bogosian.

One of Santos's acquaintances told CBS News that the New York congressman claimed in 2020 to have served as a confidential informant in the case. However, the said acquaintance now doubts whether Santos's claim was true.

Prosecutors noted that they had evidence that Santos's ex-roommate had stolen around 300 accounts in Seattle in just three days, using a card skimmer.

A court transcript showed that prosecutors described the operation as "sophisticated," with DAs believing it was just "the tip of the iceberg."

Meanwhile, the House ethics panel launched a probe into Santos, exploring possible "unlawful activity" linked to his run.

Aside from the House of Representatives, state, federal, and Brazilian authorities are also investigating Santos.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Rep. George Santos was questioned by U.S. Secret Service in 2017 fraud investigation - from CBS News