paco Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Link Quote Steve Bannon, three others charged with fraud in border wall fundraising campaign (CNN)Federal prosecutors on Thursday charged Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump's former campaign adviser, and three others with defrauding donors of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a border wall fundraising campaign. Bannon has been arrested, according to a spokesman for the US attorney's office. Bannon's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This story is breaking and will be updated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha_TATEr Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 but obama Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikas83 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Statement from the DOJ. Accuses them of taking money from the charity for personal expenses. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/leaders-we-build-wall-online-fundraising-campaign-charged-defrauding-hundreds-thousands Quote FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 20, 2020 Leaders Of ‘We Build The Wall’ Online Fundraising Campaign Charged With Defrauding Hundreds Of Thousands Of Donors Brian Kolfage, Stephen Bannon, and Two Others Alleged to Have Funneled Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars From the Organization to Kolfage; All Four Defendants Allegedly Profited From Their Roles in the Scheme Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced the unsealing of an indictment charging BRIAN KOLFAGE, STEPHEN BANNON, ANDREW BADOLATO, and TIMOTHY SHEA for their roles in defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign known as "We Build the Wall” that raised more than $25 million. The defendants were arrested this morning. KOLFAGE will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon in the Northern District of Florida. BANNON will be presented today in the Southern District of New York. BADOLATO will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Wilson in the Middle District of Florida. SHEA will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix in the District of Colorado. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in the Southern District of New York. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: "As alleged, the defendants defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalizing on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars, under the false pretense that all of that money would be spent on construction. While repeatedly assuring donors that Brian Kolfage, the founder and public face of We Build the Wall, would not be paid a cent, the defendants secretly schemed to pass hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kolfage, which he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. We thank the USPIS for their partnership in investigating this case, and we remain dedicated to rooting out and prosecuting fraud wherever we find it.” Inspector-in-Charge Philip R. Bartlett said: "The defendants allegedly engaged in fraud when they misrepresented the true use of donated funds. As alleged, not only did they lie to donors, they schemed to hide their misappropriation of funds by creating sham invoices and accounts to launder donations and cover up their crimes, showing no regard for the law or the truth. This case should serve as a warning to other fraudsters that no one is above the law, not even a disabled war veteran or a millionaire political strategist.” According to the Indictment[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: Starting in approximately December 2018, BRIAN KOLFAGE, STEPHEN BANNON, ANDREW BADOLATO, and TIMOTHY SHEA, and others, orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of donors, including donors in the Southern District of New York, in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign ultimately known as "We Build The Wall” that raised more than $25 million to build a wall along the southern border of the United States. In particular, to induce donors to donate to the campaign, KOLFAGE repeatedly and falsely assured the public that he would "not take a penny in salary or compensation” and that "100% of the funds raised . . . will be used in the execution of our mission and purpose” because, as BANNON publicly stated, "we’re a volunteer organization.” Those representations were false. In truth, KOLFAGE, BANNON, BADOLATO, and SHEA received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donor funds from We Build the Wall, which they each used in a manner inconsistent with the organization’s public representations. In particular, KOLFAGE covertly took for his personal use more than $350,000 in funds that donors had given to We Build the Wall, while BANNON, through a non-profit organization under his control (“Non-Profit-1”), received over $1 million from We Build the Wall, at least some of which BANNON used to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in BANNON’s personal expenses. To conceal the payments to KOLFAGE from We Build the Wall, KOLFAGE, BANNON, BADOLATO, and SHEA devised a scheme to route those payments from We Build the Wall to KOLFAGE indirectly through Non-Profit-1 and a shell company under SHEA’s control, among other avenues. They did so by using fake invoices and sham "vendor” arrangements, among other ways, to ensure, as KOLFAGE noted in a text message to BADOLATO, that his pay arrangement remained "confidential” and kept on a "need to know” basis. * * * KOLFAGE, 38, of Miramar Beach, Florida, BANNON, 66, of Washington, D.C., BADOLATO, 56, of Sarasota, Florida, and SHEA, 49, of Castle Rock, Colorado, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge. Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPIS and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. She also thanked the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida for their assistance. The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicolas Roos, Alison G. Moe, and Robert B. Sobelman are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawkins4prez Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Maybe all these crooks are throwing breadrumbs at law enforcement because they want to be arrested now, while they are still in time for the pardon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCEaglefan Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 I’m just shockered by this news Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L.E Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikas83 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha_TATEr Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 every man has a right to own a boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paco Posted August 20, 2020 Author Share Posted August 20, 2020 21 minutes ago, vikas83 said: Statement from the DOJ. Accuses them of taking money from the charity for personal expenses. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/leaders-we-build-wall-online-fundraising-campaign-charged-defrauding-hundreds-thousands Lock the scum up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_hunt Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 my 500% match though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikas83 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 But Obamagate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCEaglefan Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 I’m sure no one in the Trump family knew or was getting a piece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kz! Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Why do these people think they can get away with schemes like this? It's not like they're Clintons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha_TATEr Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 4 minutes ago, OCEaglefan said: I’m sure no one in the Trump family knew or was getting a piece thats a lofty accusation there sir. you act as if the trump's had an issue with a charity themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCEaglefan Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Erik Prince also a senior member of the charity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCEaglefan Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 BWAHAHAHAHAHA THE POSTAL SERVICE CAUGHT HIM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokesdawg Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Boy oh boy.... that's why Barr wanted the SDNY AG out of there... but had to relent and put someone in as "acting" when hell was raised. I'm assuming this is not just going to end with Bannon and Kolfage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawkins4prez Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Russia gets a ton of credit that Bannon actually deserves. Cambridge Analytica was the real secret weapon that drove Trump's victory in 2016. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolg Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 SDNY is having a busy day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCEaglefan Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanHammersly Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 If Lewandowski's ever arrested, Trump will have pulled off the rare, never-before-seen, campaign manager felon hat trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBE Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 1 hour ago, paco said: Lock the scum up. Absolutely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCEaglefan Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 13 minutes ago, VanHammersly said: If Lewandowski's ever arrested, Trump will have pulled off the rare, never-before-seen, campaign manager felon hat trick. We are nearing the blackout bingo card Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCEaglefan Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 I hope Zuker is ok today (I miss him) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCEaglefan Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Boater Fraud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.