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Breaking — Steve Bannon, Brian Kolfage arrested and charged by DOJ…
www.citizenfreepress.com ^ | Posted by Kane on August 20, 2020 10:04 am

Posted on 08/20/2020 7:15:08 AM PDT by Red Badger

Steve Bannon, ‘We Build The Wall’ organizers arrested, charged with defrauding donors

Steve Bannon has been federally indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection to a crowdfunding campaign to build a border wall. Bannon was arrested this morning in Washington, D.C. on charges he and others allegedly made false representations about the “We Build the Wall campaign.”

Bannon, 66 is expected to appear in court virtually on Thursday.

Prosecutors said Bannon and others defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors to the online campaign by falsely assuring them the organizers were not taking a penny of donation money — Bannon had publicly stated, “we’re a volunteer organization.”

“Those representations were false,” the indictment said.

Bannon, Brian Koflage, 38, of Mirimar Beach, Florida, Andrew Badolato, 56, of Sarasota, Florida, and Timothy Shea, 49, of Castle Rock, Colorado, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Each charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.

The defendants allegedly defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors in connection with the crowdfunding campaign, which raised more than $25 million.

The indictment was brought by prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

“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,” acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a press release. “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.”

According to the indictment, Bannon took at least $1 million to pay personal expenses.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Government; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: bannon; bannonarrested; braking; briankoflage; briankolfage; greed; guowengui; habbening; koflage; sdny; search; stevebannon; thestorm; unsealedinctemnts; webuildthewall
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To: Red Badger

If these guys took the money for other reasons, including living a lavish lifestyle as the indictment suggests, I would be really disappointed in them.


101 posted on 08/20/2020 8:28:35 AM PDT by hawkaw
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To: Thank You Rush

It’s Brian Kolfage and family..................

https://www.facebook.com/Brian.Kolfage.jr/


102 posted on 08/20/2020 8:28:53 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said "There is no marriage in Heaven." ... That's why they call it Heaven............)
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To: Laslo Fripp

No longer active duty............


103 posted on 08/20/2020 8:30:22 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said "There is no marriage in Heaven." ... That's why they call it Heaven............)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
I donated. I was not defrauded.

Me too!

104 posted on 08/20/2020 8:31:11 AM PDT by null and void (Quarantine the sick. Shield the vulnerable. Free everyone else!)
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To: Zeroisanumber1

Welcome to FR! I see you showed up at the beginning of campaign season...


105 posted on 08/20/2020 8:32:54 AM PDT by null and void (Quarantine the sick. Shield the vulnerable. Free everyone else!)
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To: 9YearLurker

Do you have a link to that? I sure would like to see it.


106 posted on 08/20/2020 8:34:06 AM PDT by rlmorel ("Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies"- George Orwell)
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To: Red Badger
So I guess the hottie will be available 😉
107 posted on 08/20/2020 8:34:25 AM PDT by TermLimits4All (A next on the agenda, reelection of DJT.)
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To: Made In The USA
Does the SDNY have any other purpose than advancing a political agenda?

What other purpose should a court have?

108 posted on 08/20/2020 8:34:37 AM PDT by null and void (Quarantine the sick. Shield the vulnerable. Free everyone else!)
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To: setter

Ukraine Corruptocratic failed state may well let old Jews starve. but I can’t see Russia or Israel doing so—I thinks its the Raccoon in the Trap trick used to scam—Sad to see Mike Huckabee endorsing this.


109 posted on 08/20/2020 8:37:30 AM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade (Into the Jaws of H*ll Onward! Ride to the sound of the guns!)
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To: DesertRhino

I’ve worked with Brian. He always came across as an unpretentious and laid-back man, self-deprecating, sometimes a bit too informal with his business practices, knew how to earn a good living. I believe this is one of the vehicles he owns, a pretty nice Ferarri:

https://web.archive.org/web/20160324223908/http://briankolfage.com/

He has suffered a LOT, and does have difficult disabilities. But he does have a pretty lavish life.


110 posted on 08/20/2020 8:39:50 AM PDT by Theo (FReeping since 1998 ... drain the swamp.)
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To: Red Badger

Lots of people with the rank of Senior Airman in the Air Force live that lifestyle. You should see how the Staff Sergeants live.


111 posted on 08/20/2020 8:42:38 AM PDT by wrcase
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To each his/her own.


Husband and wife scam: Prosecutors say Brian Kolfage funneled cash to himself
to pay for boat payments, cosmetic surgery and tax and credit card debt, with his
wife Ashley, 34, getting cash which was concealed too. She is not indicted

112 posted on 08/20/2020 8:43:44 AM PDT by deport
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To: Signalman

I also sent $50.

I do not recall IF I got a refund.

I figured what the heck. It was worth the $50. Even as a symbol of what the people wanted.


113 posted on 08/20/2020 8:45:22 AM PDT by woodbutcher1963
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To: Theo
From https://www.instagram.com/p/zUH0Z6gB0U/?hl=en

114 posted on 08/20/2020 8:46:11 AM PDT by Theo (FReeping since 1998 ... drain the swamp.)
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To: TheConservativeBanker
We Build the Wall is a Florida not for profit corporation with a Texas mailing address. What is the rationale for SDNY having jurisdiction in this case? Go Fund Me is a California Company. Probably incorporated in Delaware. Does this create SDNY jurisdiction?

ONE person in NYC donated $5, once!

115 posted on 08/20/2020 8:47:53 AM PDT by null and void (Quarantine the sick. Shield the vulnerable. Free everyone else!)
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To: deport

She is definitely NOT GUILTY!


116 posted on 08/20/2020 8:48:17 AM PDT by woodbutcher1963
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To: 9YearLurker

Bannon accused Don Jr of treason and said no way he didn’t know what was going on at Trump tower meeting. Bannon did knife Pres Trump in back.

It’s amazing how investigations get quick arrests when they involve Trump people but Clinton and other Dems drags on for years and years.

So many Trump people taken down due to their own fault on political hits.


117 posted on 08/20/2020 8:48:59 AM PDT by Engedi (SCOTU)
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To: rlmorel

Steve Bannon’s War Room Epidemic, Episode 1: January 25, 2020:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cfib5a9kq8


118 posted on 08/20/2020 8:48:59 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: Red Badger

Not to worry.

These indictments are but foreshadowing of those to come. Before indicting any seditionist conspirators, equality demands some pro trump indictments.

It is a gambit feint where the Winner looks three or four moves ahead.


119 posted on 08/20/2020 8:54:04 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12) Progressives are existential American enemies.....all of them)
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To: devane617
What or who is this?

Brian Kolfage.

Look up how he became a triple amputee.

Why ask "What" is he? Does it offend you that he is a breeder?

120 posted on 08/20/2020 8:56:02 AM PDT by null and void (Quarantine the sick. Shield the vulnerable. Free everyone else!)
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