A Purple Heart triple amputee veteran spent stolen funds from the We Build The Wall scam on home renovations, boats, plastic surgery, an SUV, credit card debt, a golf cart, and jewelry, prosecutors allege.
Brian Kolfage, the main beneficiary of the scheme, was charged along with Steven Bannon and two others for stealing donations from the We Build The Wall GoFundMe account.
It was in 2018 when Kolfage set up the GoFundMe account to build parts of the wall between the US and Mexico.
The scam managed to raise $25 million that year but the website became suspicious of where the funds were being used and warned the celebrated war veteran to donate it to a charity or refund all donors.
Bannon, Andrew Badolato, and Timothy Shea then got involved and used a not-for-profit formed by Bannon and shell companies to launder the money back to Kolfage while keeping cash for themselves, prosecutors claim.
Bannon, 66, is accused of taking $1 million from the funds and used it to travel, pay credit card debts, and relax in hotels.
38-year-old Kolfage and his TikTok star wide 33-year-old Ashley spent the most funds most enthusiastically.
The couple, who lives in a $290,000 home in Miramar, shows off their luxurious weekend escapades on boats.
They used the money on boat payments, home renovations, cosmetic surgery, a golf cart, an SUV, credit card debt, and personal tax payments.
The triple-amputee veteran came under scrutiny after purchasing a $600,000 boat that he claimed he bought before he started the GoFundMe account.
Bannon, Badolato, and Shea had spent hundreds of thousands they funneled on credit card debt, hotels, luxurious items, and travel.
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Replaced!