United States v. Trevor Milton

Decisions and steps

1. 14 October 2022Jury convicts on one count of securities fraud and two counts of wire fraud^S8
2. 18 December 2023Sentence of 48 months' imprisonment and three years' supervised release^S4S9
3. 27 March 2025Full presidential pardon granted^S4S5

Claims this case bears on

• Partly supported73
  The Hindenburg report said Nikola's claims to design key components in house were false and that it bought inverters from a supplier called Cascadia.
  Short-seller report, 10 September 20202 records citedProduct claims
• Contradicted83
  Nikola said in September 2020 that the allegations in the Hindenburg report were false and misleading.
  Company statement, 14 September 20205 records citedFraud

Sources

1. S8Tier C Nikola founder Trevor Milton convicted of fraud for misleading investorsFortune (Bloomberg). Press report. 14 October 2022.Bloomberg report by Chris Dolmetsch and Edward Ludlow on the jury verdict of 14 October 2022 on three counts. DOJ records confirm an October 2022 conviction.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
2. S4Tier A Clemency Grants by President Donald J. Trump (2025-Present)U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney. Government press release. 27 March 2025.Lists the founder's pardon, offenses and the 18 December 2023 sentence. It does not give the verdict date.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
3. S9Tier A Trevor Milton Sentenced To Four Years In Prison For Securities Fraud SchemeU.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. Government press release. 18 December 2023.DOJ release on the four year sentence by Judge Edgardo Ramos after a one month trial. It does not give the exact verdict date.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
4. S5Tier C Nikola Founder Trevor Milton Receives Full Pardon From TrumpTransport Topics. Press report. 28 March 2025.Reports the 2022 jury conviction, four year sentence and the pardon. Staff byline only, corroborated by the DOJ pardon list.Link working, checked 25 October 2026