Nikola Founder Trevor Milton Asks to Avoid Prison Despite Fraud Conviction

Nikola Corp. founder Trevor Milton asked a federal judge to allow him to stay out of prison despite his conviction for lying to investors about the electric truck maker’s prospects, contending that he only made misstatements due to his belief in the company and didn’t intend to deceive shareholders.

Lawyers for the 41-year-old Milton said in a memo filed Tuesday that US District Judge Edgardo Ramos should only impose probation at a Nov. 28 hearing, saying there is no evidence that their client was “motivated by spite, nastiness, ill will or cruelty,” and that he is a “decent, guileless, hard-working, kind-hearted, generous and caring person.” Milton’s “enthusiasm, his optimism, his spontaneity,” and his “deep emotional connection” to the company he founded in his basement inspired many of his public statements, they said.

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