Former Hawaii resident pleads guilty to fraud charges

NEW YORK (KHON2) — Brian Kolfage and Andrew Badolato pled responsible on Thursday, April 21 to defrauding lots of of 1000’s of donors with a web-based marketing campaign referred to as “We Construct the Wall.”

Kolfage is a 1999 Kaimuki graduate and Air Power veteran.

The web fundraising efforts garnered greater than $25,000,000 to construct a wall alongside the southern border of the USA.

Courtroom paperwork mentioned Kolfage repeatedly assured donors that every one the funds go to the wall, and that he wouldn’t take any compensation.

Official mentioned the previous Hawaii resident took greater than $350,000 for himself. Badolato and others additionally bought cash for themselves. One of many methods the cash was taken was they created pretend invoices to pay phony distributors.

Officers mentioned Kolfage texted Badolato that his pay association was confidential and stored on a have to know foundation.

They pled responsible earlier than United States District Decide Analisa Torres in New York. They are going to be sentenced on September 6.

They pled responsible to at least one rely of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Kolfage additionally pled responsible to tax and wire fraud costs filed by the USA Legal professional’s Workplace for the Northern District of Florida. 

Kolfage and Badolato are each Florida residents.