Wall-project exec now facing tax case

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The co-founder of the We Build The Wall project aimed at raising money for a border wall was indicted Thursday on tax charges, adding to the fraud charges he already faces.

Prosecutors said that Brian Kolfage underreported his taxable income, in 2019. The indictment also accuses Kolfage of failing to report “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in contributions to the project that were funneled into his personal account.

An attorney for Kolfage was not listed in court records. The other case against Kolfage is in New York. In August, a grand jury indicted Kolfage and Steve Bannon, former adviser to former President Donald Trump. Bannon was pardoned by Trump on his last day in office. The case still continues against Kolfage and others.

The New York prosecutors say Kolfage and others worked to divert some of the $25 million raised for the wall project for their own personal use.

They are charged in that case with one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Kolfage pleaded innocent to the charges and is free on bond.