Scam artist stole money to help build Washed Up 45's border wall. |
The controversial We Build The Wall outlet stole millions of dollars from gullible supporters of Washed Up 45. The founder of this group, his wife, his partner and a far right agitator used that money for their own personal lifestyles.
Now a federal judge is coming forth to punish the founder. Washed Up 45 had pardoned the far right agitator.
The crowd-funders Brian Kolfage and Andrew Badolato pleaded guilty Thursday for their roles in pocketing donations solicited to help build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.
Kolfage, 39, and Badolato, 57, each pleaded guilty in federal court in New York City to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Kolfage, a triple-amputee Air Force veteran, also pleaded guilty to tax and wire fraud charges.
The two men worked alongside Knot C. Bannon, who was the chief White House strategist during the Washed Up 45's administration and was also indicted in connection with orchestrating the wall crowdfunding effort.
Another leader of the fundraising campaign who was not pardoned by Washed Up 45 — Timothy Shea — has pleaded not guilty.
Grifter and trophy wife stole money for luxury. |
The men are alleged to have organized a scheme in December 2018 that raised more than $25 million by defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors who contributed to a crowdfunding campaign to build a wall along the southern border of the U.S., one of Washed Up 45's key campaign promises.
Kolfage “repeatedly and falsely assured the public that he would ‘not take a penny in salary’” and that “100 % of the fund raised ... will be used in the execution of our mission and purpose,” according to the indictment.
The indictment goes on to say he “covertly” took more than $350,000 for his personal use while Bannon used a nonprofit group under his control to receive $1 million from the campaign to pay Kolfage and personal expenses.
Bannon falsely claimed that the campaign was a “volunteer organization,” according to the indictment.
Federal prosecutors said the defendants used “fake invoices” and “‘sham’ vendor agreements” to route hundreds of thousands of donated dollars from “We Build the Wall” to pay for their personal expenses.
Kolfage and Badolato are scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 6.
NBC News has asked their attorneys for comment.
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