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In 2019, Iraqi Air Force veteran Brian Kolfage formed a nonprofit to build the border wall promised by then-President Donald J. Trump. It was simply called “We Build the Wall”.
Kolfage had three co-founders. Florida-based investor Andrew Budlat. Stephen K. Bannon, former adviser to Trump.
According to federal prosecutors, Mr. Badrat and Mr. Bannon took control of their day-to-day operations. Kolfage, who lost both his legs and part of his arm in Iraq, is the public face of the group, and all the money raised will be used to build a wall between the United States and Mexico, where “every cent will be compensated.” do not have. “
But in 2020, prosecutors accused Badrat, Bannon, Kolfage and Shea of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Badlat and Kolfage pleaded guilty to a wire fraud conspiracy in 2022, and Kolfage also pleaded guilty to tax crimes. Last fall, Shea was found guilty of conspiring to wire fraud, falsifying records and conspiring to launder money. Bannon escaped trial after being pardoned by Trump.
On Wednesday, Manhattan U.S. District Court Judge Analisa Torres sentenced Badrat to three years in prison and Colfarge to four years and three months.
Before the sentence was handed down, Kolfage said he was “disgusted and humiliated” by his crimes, adding that he “deeply apologizes for his actions”.
Badrat told Judge Torres: I put myself at your mercy.
In many ways, We Build the Wall, which raised over $25 million, has become an enduring icon of the Trump era. It was born out of Trump’s “beautiful wall” vision, seen by some as embodying his “America First” stance and by some as a fear-mongering racism. regarded as a symbol of
The president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. Supported We Build the Wall boasted on social media of their connection to the president. Allies of Trump joined the advisory board, including Eric Prince, founder of the private military company Blackwater, now known as Academi. And while Mr. Trump’s intervention in the final hours of his presidency shielded Mr. Bannon from federal prosecution, state prosecutors charged him with similar charges last year.
Evidence from Shea’s trial could be used by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office against Mr. Bannon. Badrat’s attorney said his client was prepared to testify at Bannon’s trial. One of Mr. Kolfage’s attorneys said his client testified before a grand jury in Manhattan before Mr. Bannon was indicted.
In a letter to the court, defense counsel asked for leniency. Badrat’s lawyers said his client had recently suffered a brain hemorrhage and asked for a suspended sentence or house arrest.
Kolfage’s attorney said he was just the “symbolic leader” of the group. They asked him to be sentenced to “house arrest” because of his military service and injuries.
“Mr. Kolfage respects the court and its decision, but disagrees that 51 months was appropriate for this American hero. Brian’s remorse and extraordinary service to our country.”
Prosecutors said the two defendants deserve prison terms for defrauding donors. “As far as the public knows, nobody gets paid,” Kolfage once told Badrat, adding that “salaries are never disclosed.”
Prosecutors wrote that Kolfage spent money on luxury SUVs, golf carts and home renovations and “did not show remorse or remorse”. He falsely claimed that he had been robbed.
“He used a carefully crafted public façade to steal from the hundreds of thousands of private donors who trusted him,” they wrote. “He then viciously and openly attacked the media and the public for questioning his credibility and integrity.”
Kolfage had promised that all donations would go to the border wall. Prosecutors say behind the scenes, Badrat and Bannon initially agreed that he would pay $100,000 and then $20,000 a month.
Prosecutors said We Build the Wall poured more than $1 million into a nonprofit organization formed by Mr. Bannon called the Citizens of the American Republic (COAR).
Evidence suggests that hundreds of thousands of dollars were paid to a company named Ranch Property Marketing and Management, which Mr. Shea founded. Some went to Mr. Colfarge and Mr. Shay and his wife.
Other funds went to a company with ties to Badrat called White Knights & Vultures, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors cited several text messages between We Build the Wall partners. One shows Shea’s surprise at seeing a flood of donations. Kolfage writes:
The message also showed Badrat describing a news release in which Kolfage said he would “not give him a dime,” but that individual donors “reached milestones.” Then I will compensate him directly.”
Bannon replied 11 minutes later, “COAR can pay him.”
William K. Rashbaum contributed to the report.
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