Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Courthouse News reports:
Guo Wengui, the self-exiled Chinese media mogul with ties to the MAGA movement, was found guilty on charges that he duped his supporters out of more than $1 billion under the veil of anti-communist advocacy.
The jury found Guo not guilty on counts of wire and securities fraud related to the Chinese media platform GTV, and one count of unlawful monetary transaction. His sentencing is set for November 19.
Guo founded GTV, an anti-censorship enterprise, alongside former Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon. The pair appeared to be friends — Bannon was arrested by federal agents on Guo’s yacht in 2020 on fraud charges. Guo, also known as Miles Guo, has been in custody since was he arrested in March 2023.
CNN reports:
“Miles Guo … brazenly operated several interrelated fraud schemes, all designed to fleece his loyal followers out of their hard-earned money” to fund his luxury lifestyle when he was in exile, US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement after the verdict. “Today, Guo’s schemes have been put to an end.”
During closing arguments, prosecutor Ryan Finkel told the jury that Bannon was paid $1 million by Guo because Guo wanted to “use Bannon’s notoriety and his fame to promote himself.”
Finkel said in the closing arguments last week that Guo raised more than $1 billion by guaranteeing his online followers that they would not lose money if they invested in his business and cryptocurrency schemes from 2018 to 2023.
Guo faces decades in prison.
In a March 2024 filing, the DOJ alleged that Guo had funneled millions to prominent cultists, including Bannon and top Trump advisor Jason Miller.
Last year then-GOP Rep. George Santos appeared at an event to demand Guo’s release. In return, Guo allegedly fronted the money for Santos’s bail and contributed to his campaign.
Several years ago Bannon and Guo flew banner planes around Manhattan declaring themselves to be China’s government in exile.
In 2021, the Washington Post reported that Guo was funding anti-vax, QAnon, and “Stop The Steal” groups.
I just learned Guo Wengui was arrested for embezzling $1B because the Deep State knew he was financing Steve Bannon’s show, and Bannon is Trump’s most valuable advisor, so this arrest was really all about stopping Trump. pic.twitter.com/znXVRs94qR
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) March 15, 2023
Round 2 with @ForgiatoBlow47 who can’t remember the words to his own song without a teleprompter…
And who runs away when I ask him about the fact that he wrote an entire album written for criminal fraudster Miles Guo/ Guo Wengui#RNC pic.twitter.com/WbF2uCal1j
— Rod Webber (@RodWebber) July 17, 2024
A jury has convicted Guo Wengui—an exiled Chinese billionaire with a devoted following of thousands of Chinese emigres—of multiple felonies in his sprawling fraud trial. https://t.co/UIe88IeDas
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) July 17, 2024