The National Rifle Association (NRA) has been having corruption and fraud within its ranks, and it was led by its own CEO, Wayne LaPierre, a court ruling found. The gun rights organization, infamous for lobbying lawmakers whenever a school shooting happens, as well as its leader, were found liable for fraud on Friday, as they were found to have used the group's money to fund LaPierre's lavish lifestyle.

Wayne LaPierre has served as NRA CEO for around three decades, and a New York jury found that he misspent millions of dollars of the group's money on various lavish perks, according to Politico.

This is another big win for New York Attorney General Letitia James, who recently defeated former President Donald Trump in another fraud lawsuit.

She challenged the group's longstanding not-for-profit status, and her win was a massive blow against the lobbying group, which has been known to rally gun advocates over gun rights issues. This comes as the NRA is facing mounting financial troubles and dwindling membership, with LaPierre resigning on the eve before the trial began.

Other defendants in the lawsuit included NRA general counsel John Frazer and retired finance chief Wilson Phillips. Meanwhile, the NRA itself served as both the defendant and the victim as its upper echelons spent lavishly, thanks to the group lacking internal controls to prevent misspending.

How Much Will Wayne LaPierre and NRA Leaders Pay for Losing Corruption Lawsuit?

LaPierre and his NRA colleagues lived extravagantly by using the group's own money to fund exotic getaways and trips on private planes and superyachts. Now, LaPierre must repay the NRA almost $4.4 million, while Wilson Philips must give back $2 million. NRA general counsel John Frazer was found liable for not doing his duties but was not ordered to give back money.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Facing Financial Troubles Amid Legal Defeats While Joe Biden Outraised Him

According to the Associated Press, LaPierre remained stone-faced in the front row of the courtroom as the verdict was being read, with New York AG Letitia James declaring the verdict in the case a "major victory."

In addition, the jury also found that the NRA violated state laws protecting whistleblowers. James also wants the three NRA executives to be banned from serving in leadership positions at any charitable organizations that conduct business in New York. However, a judge still has to decide if that issue should be handled by the New York State Supreme Court instead.

Wayne LaPierre Used NRA as 'Personal Piggybank'

New York Assistant AG Monica Connell pointed out that the NRA was registered as a charity, but it spent its money more on its executives' lavish lifestyles. This amounted to fraud. Meanwhile, the NRA sought to portray the proceedings as a "baseless, premeditated attack" and politically-motivated "witch hunt" by Letitia James, who campaigned on going after the NRA.

However, during that 6-week trial, she proved that the disgraced NRA executives, primarily LaPierre, used the so-called non-profit as their own "personal piggy bank," This included using NRA funds to visit the Bahamas eight times using a private plane. This cost the "charity" $500,000.

READ MORE: US President Ranking: Donald Trump Still Ranked by Historians as Worst US President in History

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: NRA, former CEO Wayne LaPierre found liable in civil corruption trial | full coverage - CBS News