New York.- A veteran of the US Air Force, accused of defrauding the donors of a campaign to raise funds to help former President Donald Trump to build a wall on the US-Mexico border, agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and three tax charges.
The United States Department of Justice disclosed his plea agreement with brian kolfagewho led the “We Build the Wall” campaign, in a filing Wednesday before the US District Court in Manhattan.
Kolfage is expected to formally plead guilty on April 21 before District Judge Analisa Torres. Her attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The government had accused Kolfage, Trump’s former adviser, in August 2020 Steve Bannon and two other people for “We Build the Wall.”
Kolfage, of Miramar Beach, Florida, created the private campaign in December 2018, 14 years after losing his legs and right hand in a rocket attack in Iraq. He became involved in conservative politics after returning from that country.
Prosecutors said Kolfage told potential donors he “wouldn’t take a penny” while raising more than $25 million, yet he took more than $350,000 and spent the money on a boat, a luxury SUVa golf cart, jewelry and cosmetic surgery, among other expenses.
The wire fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The tax charges, originally filed in Florida, include filing false tax returns and wire fraud.
A separate charge of money laundering conspiracy is not part of Kolfage’s plea agreement, according to Wednesday’s letter.
Torres dropped the indictment against Bannon in May of last year, after the former adviser received a presidential pardon in the closing hours of Trump’s presidency.