New York — A fundraiser for Rep. George Santos was indicted in federal court on charges of defrauding donors while impersonating a top aide to House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy two years ago during a push by Santos, then a candidate, to win his district.

Prosecutors unsealed wire fraud and identity theft charges Wednesday against Samuel Miele, 27, in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, alleging that he solicited donations using his fake identity from more than a dozen potential contributors. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and was released on a $150,000 bond.

The case follows an indictment filed against Santos, R-N.Y., in the same federal court district, also for allegedly defrauding contributors.

On Wednesday, prosecutors filed a letter to the Long Island federal judge overseeing Santos's pending case to suggest the related matters be joined for efficiency.

Santos, a freshman congressman who represents parts of Queens and Long Island, earned national notoriety for winning his seat after lying repeatedly about his background, his credentials and his personal history. Before and after his indictment he has refused to resign, and he has already announced plans to run for reelection.

Among a number of lies that made headlines once his falsehoods were revealed, he said his mother survived the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and that he is descended from Holocaust survivors.

Miele, of New Jersey, was part of a fundraising push to get Santos elected in 2020 and 2022, when he won his district without the public knowing that his biography had been fabricated and that he had been looked at over alleged financial crimes in the past.

Working on commission for the campaign, Miele allegedly took to impersonating a veteran political aide, Dan Meyer, who had been working for McCarthy (R-Calif.). Miele made a fake email account purporting to belong to Meyer. The email signatures also displayed the McCarthy adviser's name.

Miele's attorney Kevin Marino said in a written statement that his client is not guilty and "looks forward to complete vindication at trial as soon as possible."