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We Build the Wall Inc. raised more than $25 million, claiming that all the money would go toward constructing a border barrier. Those promises were lies, said prosecutors with the United States attorney’s office, and on Friday a jury agreed, convicting Mr. Shea of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to launder money and falsification of documents.
The conviction ended a case that began in 2020 when Mr. Shea was arrested along with three other men who had prominent roles in We Build the Wall: the group’s president, an Air Force veteran named Brian Kolfage, who lost both legs and part of his right arm in Iraq and guaranteed that he would “not take a penny”; a Florida financier named Andrew Badolato; and Stephen K. Bannon, a former chief strategist for Mr. Trump.
Prosecutors said that all four schemed to secretly funnel money from We Build the Wall to themselves. Those funds, prosecutors added, ended up being used to pay hotel and credit card bills, to buy jewelry, a golf cart and a luxury SUV, and to purchase a truckload of Trump-themed energy drinks marketed as containing “liberal tears.”
By the time of the arrests of the four men, We Build the Wall’s website said the group had funded the creation of just under five miles of wall.
Mr. Kolfage pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and tax-related charges. Mr. Badolato pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy.
Mr. Bannon was spared a federal trial after he received a pardon from Mr. Trump during his last hours as president but is now facing a trial in state court. Last month, the Manhattan district attorney’s office unsealed an indictment charging Mr. Bannon with money laundering, conspiracy and scheming to defraud.
When Mr. Kolfage suggested creating a website to raise money, Mr. Shea replied “Yaaaass!” About a week later, he responded in another message to reports from Mr. Kolfage that donations were pouring in.
“I mean, people are crazy.” Mr. Shea wrote. “Who would throw money at something like this? At Christmas time!”
www.nytimes.com
The conviction ended a case that began in 2020 when Mr. Shea was arrested along with three other men who had prominent roles in We Build the Wall: the group’s president, an Air Force veteran named Brian Kolfage, who lost both legs and part of his right arm in Iraq and guaranteed that he would “not take a penny”; a Florida financier named Andrew Badolato; and Stephen K. Bannon, a former chief strategist for Mr. Trump.
Prosecutors said that all four schemed to secretly funnel money from We Build the Wall to themselves. Those funds, prosecutors added, ended up being used to pay hotel and credit card bills, to buy jewelry, a golf cart and a luxury SUV, and to purchase a truckload of Trump-themed energy drinks marketed as containing “liberal tears.”
By the time of the arrests of the four men, We Build the Wall’s website said the group had funded the creation of just under five miles of wall.
Mr. Kolfage pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and tax-related charges. Mr. Badolato pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy.
Mr. Bannon was spared a federal trial after he received a pardon from Mr. Trump during his last hours as president but is now facing a trial in state court. Last month, the Manhattan district attorney’s office unsealed an indictment charging Mr. Bannon with money laundering, conspiracy and scheming to defraud.
When Mr. Kolfage suggested creating a website to raise money, Mr. Shea replied “Yaaaass!” About a week later, he responded in another message to reports from Mr. Kolfage that donations were pouring in.
“I mean, people are crazy.” Mr. Shea wrote. “Who would throw money at something like this? At Christmas time!”
In Retrial, Man Who Helped Run Border Wall Charity Is Convicted (Published 2022)
Timothy Shea was the only one of four defendants in the federal case to face a jury. The former Trump adviser Stephen K. Bannon faces similar charges in state court.
