A jury reached the verdict against
Milton's lawyer,
“We're going to keep fighting,” he told reporters outside court.
At trial, the government had portrayed Milton as a con man while his lawyer called him an inspiring visionary who was being railroaded by overzealous prosecutors.
Those prosecutors alleged that
Called as a government witness, Nikola’s CEO testified that Milton “was prone to exaggeration" in pitching his venture to investors.
“The lies — that is what this case is about,” prosecutor
Mukasey urged acquittal, saying there was “a stunning lack of evidence” that his client ever intended to cheat investors.
Milton, 40, had pleaded not guilty to securities and wire fraud. He resigned in 2020 amid reports of fraud that sent Nikola’s stock prices into a tailspin.
At one point, the trial was delayed for more than a week after Milton’s lawyer tested positive for the coronavirus.
Sentencing for Milton was set for
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