The list of things that have been linked to disgraced Representative George Santos continues to grow and the latest one involves a disabled and homeless man.
According to a report, Santos’ dubious act involved cheating the veteran out of thousands of dollars that were donated and meant to save the homeless individual’s dying service dog.
The veteran was identified as Richard Osthoff. He claims to have met Santos back in 2016 under the identity of Anthony Devolder, Patch reported.
Osthoff was honorably discharged from the Navy in 2002 and lived in a tent on the side of Route 9 in Howell, New Jersey alongside his dog named Sapphire.
The service dog was reportedly suffering from a life-threatening stomach tumor that was growing by the day. Sapphire needed surgery to remove the tumor, a procedure that would cost roughly $3,000 according to attending veterinarians.
Unable to afford the cost of the surgery, Osthoff was helped by a veterinary technician who took him aside and offered to assist him with the help of a pet charity called “Friends of Pets,” something allegedly run by Devolder which is an alias that Santos has used in the past.
A GoFundMe was put up to help raise funds for Sapphire, an effort that amassed about $3,000. However, after reaching this, the page was deleted and Devolder disappeared as well.
The 47-year-old never saw a penny from that cause. Sapphire eventually died on Jan. 15, 2017.
“Little girl never left my side in 10 years,” Osthoff told the outlet. “I went through two bouts of seriously considering suicide, but thinking about leaving her without me saved my life. I loved that dog so much, I inhaled her last breaths when I had her euthanized.”
It was added that a retired New Jersey police Sgt. Named Michael Boll, tried to help Osthoff by reaching out to Santos.
“I contacted [Santos] and told him, ‘You’re messing with a veteran,’ and that he needed to give back the money or use it to get Osthoff another dog,” Boll said. “He was totally uncooperative on the phone.”
It was added that Santos had told Osthoff to take Sapphire to a Queens veterinarian instead of the New Jersey practice because he had “credit” with the practice in the Big Apple.
Santos allegedly donated the $3,000 to other dogs in need because Sapphire wasn’t a candidate for surgery and Osthoff didn’t do things his way.
From there, Osthoff was never able to touch base with Santos again.
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