Former roommate accuses George Santos of running a credit card fraud scheme in 2017

A man convicted of fraud in 2017 for a credit card skimming operation in Seattle claims that the mastermind behind the operation, documents show, was Rep. George Santos (R-NY), his former roommate.

Gustavo Ribeiro Treglia said Tuesday in a sworn statement sent to the FBI, the New York office of the U.S. Secret Service and the Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, that Santos had a warehouse full of equipment to remove credit cards and print counterfeit ones. in Orlando, Florida.

Trelha told authorities that Santos provided him with equipment for the Seattle scam and showed him how to use it after demanding a 50 percent discount.

“I’m coming out today to state that the person responsible for the credit card fraud when I was arrested was George Santos/Anthony Devolder,” Treglia wrote in a statement obtained by Politico on Thursday.

“Santos taught me how to view card information and how to clone cards. He gave me all the materials and taught me how to install skimming devices and cameras on ATMs,” added Treglia, who was deported to Brazil after being convicted.

Treglia and Santos first talked to each other in the fall of 2016 on a Facebook group for Brazilians in Orlando.

By November 2016, Treglia had rented a room in Santos’ apartment in Winter Park, Florida, according to Politico.

“It was then and there that I learned from him how to clone ATMs and credit cards,” Tregliat says.

“He had a lot of supplies — parts, printers, an empty ATM and credit cards to paint and engrave with the stolen account and personal information,” he adds, alleging that Santos gave him some of the equipment stored in his warehouse.

Trelha then claims that he flew to Seattle with a “Santos deal” instead of “50% for him and 50% for me”.

According to the report, the scam fell apart when Treglia was caught on a security camera removing a skimming device from an ATM in the Seattle area.

Trelha writes that he took responsibility for the Long Island representative because “Santos threatened my friends in Florida that I shouldn’t say he’s my boss,” and he told Politico that the congressman promised to hire a lawyer he used Mexican drug lord Joaquin. “El Chapo” Guzman – what he just didn’t do.

“Santos didn’t help me get out of jail. He also stole the money I raised for bail,” Tregliat told federal investigators.

A representative for the 3rd District of New York appeared in a Seattle court on Trelhy’s behalf, telling the judge that he was a “family friend.”

During the speech, Santos showed off his fake IDs, telling the judge that he worked for Goldman Sachs.

“So what do you do at work?” King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell asked Santos during Trelhy’s bail hearing.

“I am an aspiring politician and I work for Goldman Sachs,” Santos said in response.

“Do you work for Goldman Sachs in New York?” O’Donnell explained.

“Yeah,” Santos said.

The deceitful Long Island Republican is under federal criminal investigation, with the Department of Justice reportedly investigating possible campaign finance offenses and also under investigation by the House Ethics Committee.

In December, Santos admitted to The Post that he made up much of his resume while running for office, but stated categorically, “I’m not a criminal.”

Santos’ office did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.