We build the (our) wall (wallets)?

Founders of "We build the wall" were indicted for allegedly defrauding donors by pocketing a significant portion of the $25,000,000 raised via their crowdfunding scheme, although claiming the dollars were allocated for building segments of a border wall on private property. Steve Bannon, Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea face federal charges of conspiracies to commit wire fraud and money laundering, creating fake invoices for sham vendors and accounts.

AUG 2020 PRESS RELEASE FROM DOJ, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

Despite multiple rejected-bids to build border wall segments for the US government, due to conceptual design flaws and lack of experience, Fisher Sand & Gravel constructed 3 miles in Texas and < 1 mile in New Mexico for "We Build the Wall." That, coupled with amplified visibility on Fox News, subsequently earned them billions in government contracts with support from President Trump. 60 minutes reported on the history of the company's wall projects, and problems such as erosion plaguing the Texas portion of the private wall, which was built directly on the Rio Grande river.

Sep 2020 60 MINUTES ARTICLE

Update 01/20/2021: Steven Bannon pardoned by Donald Trump. However, since his co-defendants were not pardoned, his new immunity prevents him from invoking his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination if called to testify against them.

Update 02/25/2021: Steven Bannon's financial records are subpoenaed by Manhattan's DA, who has a state investigation into the scheme.