COURTROOM SURREAL: Trevor Milton Sentenced to 4 Years for Fraud After Cites Cherokee Heritage Bail for Appeal

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, Dec 18 -- In September and October 2022 Trevor Milton, founder of Nikola Motor was put on trial for fraudulent claims about NKLA's hydrogen trucks.

On Friday, October 14, Milton was found guilty on three of four counts.

On November 14, 2023 Milton's counsel  asked for mere probation, contrasting Milton to Elizabeth Holmes and more recently OneCoin's Sebastian Greenwood (whose sealing of sentencing letters Inner City Press has appealed)

On December 11, the US put it its requested sentence for Milton: 132 months or 11 years.

On December 15 Milton claimed there was no loss. On December 17, the US Attorney's Office wrote in opposing Milton's late filed comments on the Pre-Sentencing report, 5 pages on Patreon here.

On December 18, after a surreal speech by Milton, he got four years. Thread here, some below:

Judge Ramos: Mr Milton?

Trevor Milton (wipes his eyes) Sorry for my voice...

Milton (sobbing) I feel terrible for everyone involved. I had amazing parents. I'd like to give you detailed examples of who I really am. I ask you to open your heart, the Bible says God looks at the heart. Please listen to the end before deciding

Trevor Milton: As I reflect on my heritage (pulls tissues out of box) Sorry your Honor, I never had to talk about these things before. I am one quarter Cherokee - there was ethnic cleansing against my ancestors

 Trevor Milton: My people were driven into Oklahoma. The trauma is visible on reservations. The generational trauma ended with my mother, she refused to pass it down to her children. From the time I was young I had an unusually tender heart

 Trevor Milton: In the third grade I saw Where the Red Fern Grows - I cried, and others laughed at me. I knew I would never be understood. Then my mother got sick. There was morphine for cancer. The doctors removed my mother's breasts. She was bald

Trevor Milton: My father sold our homes... Our garage was empty. Contrary to the hundreds of articles by the fake media, I was not entitled. Here are some moments I've never even told my family about. My mother told me how beautiful Heaven is, she'd visited

 Trevor Milton: My mother said there are colors in heaven that don't exist on Earth. Your purity is broadcast in colors. For the first time in my life, excuse me, for the first time in your life, you are reviewed totally. Those who sought destruction were filth

 Trevor Milton: The process of repentance can take thousands of years on the other side. It is called Hell. Each decision is broadcast to billions of God's creations. Our ability to absorb information is almost infinite.  From that point on, I remember everything

Trevor Milton: One day my decision will be broadcast in Heaven for everyone to see. I did not commit those crimes. I'm not dispute the verdict - I'm letting you know I didn't do them. I use the present tense often. It's hard with the 160 characters on Twitter

 Trevor Milton: Ruben Carter, one of the greatest African American boxers, was framed - he was found guilty by a jury too. In 1995 black and Latino teenagers were convicted right here in NYC. There reputations were destroyed. DNA exonerated them. The Five

 Trevor Milton: There's an estimated 20,000 innocent people in prison today.  I'm somewhat of a religious person. In my late teens I went to Brazil, I learned Portuguese, I lived in one of the poorest areas in the world

 Trevor Milton: My arm got cut off by a glass door. I nearly died from living in the favelas. I see the good in all things, I try to fix problems wherever I do. No more could I strip your Honor's heritage from you than you could find ill in my heart. I had no tutors

Trevor Milton: While others played polo, I went to the favelas. But I have compassion. That is my calling on Earth. It is difficult to get into Heaven. I did not commit those crimes. It is impossible for me to purposely hurt others or take what is not mine.

 Trevor Milton: I moved to Puerto Rico, the Rincon in Ponce. Being one quarter Cherokee I could have had the government pay for my college. I did not accept it. I chose to do what is right. I know right from wrong. I save millions after I paid taxes. I gave back

Trevor Milton: I started Nikola because I wanted to leave this Earth cleaner than I found it. I singlehandedly charged the vehicle industry. Hence why I always spoke in the present tense. I funded the company when no one else would. I took out hard money loans

 Trevor Milton: I was not a very seasoned CEO. My supporters are here today.  My family has never said a word against me. I gave 70% away. Evil people are greedy, they love - sorry - they bear false witness. Loving people die on the cross from the truth

 Trevor Milton: I stepped down because my wife was suffering live threatening sickness. She suffered medical malpractice, someone else's plasma. So I stepped down for that - not because I was a fraud. The truth matters. I chose my wife over money or power.

Trevor Milton: Around June 2020 I was DMed, Matt said I doubled down and lied. He's a great prosecutor - I don't hate him for that. That is his sole job, to work for the government. I replied, we will spend five months installing hydrogen production. I was clear

Trevor Milton: I doubled down with the truth. I said it was in the future. I was telling the truth to the public and the markets. I told her, The Badger is scheduled for 2022. How could have been more clear? I told the truth. It was supposed to be published.

 Trevor Milton: The reporter died of cancer. But it's like video surveillance showing I didn't do it. I use the wrong verb tense in Portuguese and Spanish. I had no Bitcoin hiding money. I didn't admit anything. They took my phone away. I tried to respect your Honor

 Trevor Milton: You must be a good loser when I lose and believe I have done that. I heard nothing back from you. Those tears were real, they've come out for the first time in 40 years. Grant me probation, my colors will shine in the future life.

Judge Ramos: It is my intention to impose a sentence of 48 months on each count, concurrently. I will impose a fine of $1 million.

Judge Ramos: A lot was discussed about Elizabeth Holmes. I know nothing about that other than what I have read in the press. I do not find that Mr. Milton's offense is similar to hers - she was marketing a technology that impacted people's health.

Judge Ramos: Ms. Holmes put it out there knowing it did not work. That's not what Mr. Milton did, I find.  I sat through the trial. I believe the jury got it right. Over the course of many months, you used your talents to tout the company in ways that were false

Judge Ramos: What you said was materially wrong. There was a theme to your letters, that you are a visionary and you have enthusiasm that causes you to get ahead of yourself. Today you said you never intended to harm anyone. The jury found otherwise

Judge Ramos: The law does not grant a pass for good intentions. Executive must speak the truth. Whether you believed that it would ultimately be true is of no moment.... Statement 7 in the US submission: When I watched the truck being driven, I invested

Judge Ramos: Statement 8, When Mr. Trevor assured us of its operation status, I was convinced - imagine the depth of betrayal when it was revealed the truck was towed up the hill and glided down. I invested - this erodes public trust in technological advancement

Judge Ramos: Mr. Milton, I understand you will be appealing this sentence.  There were really people who were hurt by your actions. I can't imagine you will break the law after this experience. I saw your family throughout the trial, you have a network

Judge Ramos:  I'm going to grant bail pending appeal. Experts are frequently challenged and are sometimes wrong

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