Longtime ally to President Trump, Steve Bannon, pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony fraud for helping to defraud donors who were giving money to “We Build the Wall,” an online fundraiser to build a wall at the southern U.S. border. In exchange for the guilty plea in New York criminal court, Bannon, 71, was sentenced to three years conditional discharge, and waived his right to appeal.
Prosecutor Jeffrey Levinson said in a statement: “The parties have worked out a plea agreement. Mr. Bannon will plead guilty to count 5 of the indictment, which is scheme to defraud in the indictment. He will receive a conditional discharge.” The guilty plea to the felony charge represents Bannon’s second criminal conviction after he served prison time for contempt of Congress.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Bannon will not be allowed to serve as an officer or director of a charity or any charitable organization in New York state, or any fundraising or not-for-profit organization in New York state. He will not be allowed to receive or hold assets for any charitable organizations. He also cannot be arrested during that time period. If he violates the terms of the deal, he could face between 1 1/3 to 4 years behind bars.
Bannon was charged in September 2022 for his role in the We Build the Wall organization that raised millions for an effort to privately build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The group and Bannon were accused of defrauding donors of $15 million in donations.
Bannon spent four months in jail last year after being found guilty of contempt of Congress for refusing to testify before a House select committee investigating the events surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
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