Image source: ABC7 New York
Allen Weisselberg: The long-serving CFO of the Trump Organization was recently given a five-month prison term.
The sentence
Allen Weisselberg was sentenced to prison by a New York judge for his involvement in a ten-year tax fraud conspiracy.
Weisselberg appeared as a witness for New York against the organization of former President Donald Trump.
He is expected to arrive at the notorious Rikers Island prison in New York City, where he will start serving his sentence immediately.
Weisselberg won’t be housed with the general population, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
He will be put in an infirmary unit instead.
Trump Organization
A Manhattan jury found two Trump Organization firms guilty of numerous counts of felony tax fraud at the beginning of last month.
In a 15-year scheme to deceive tax authorities, they were also found guilty of falsifying corporate records and failing to disclose and pay taxes on the salaries of top executives.
Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corporation were found guilty of all allegations.
Trump and his family were not charged, but he was frequently brought up because of his involvement with executives’ benefits.
Weisselberg
In August, the former CFO admitted guilt to 15 offenses.
Allen Weisselberg was compelled to testify at the Trump Organization trial as part of a deal with the prosecutors.
In addition, he had to pay $2 million in unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest.
Weisselberg also had to give up his right to file an appeal.
Allen Weisselberg acknowledged that he should have paid taxes on over $200,000 in annual off-the-books compensation, which included:
- A luxurious Manhattan apartment overlooking the Hudson River
- Car leases for two Mercedes Benz
- Parking space
- Utilities
- Furniture
- Private school tuition for grandchildren
Judge Juan Merchan stated on Tuesday that after hearing the testimony during the trial, he would have imposed a harsher punishment than the five months that were handed.
Weisselberg would have risked a lengthier term, spanning from five to fifteen years in prison, without a deal.
A third of his sentence could be wiped off if credit is given for good behavior, which means he could serve over 100 days in jail.
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Prosecutors
The CFO’s fabrication of a fraudulent $6,000 payroll check to his wife was confirmed by Judge Merchan.
Merchan referred to Weisselberg’s wife’s potential eligibility for Social Security payments as the most heinous offense motivated by Weisselberg’s greed.
The CFO’s attorney had asked for a lighter sentence due to Weisselberg’s age, among other things, and the judge said he was obliged to concur.
Before Merchan handed down his verdict, a prosecutor for the Manhattan District Attorney stated that Allen Weisselberg had complied with the terms of his plea bargain.
He testified truthfully in December against Trump Corp. and Trump Payroll Corp., according to prosecutor Susan Hoffinger.
She verified last week’s payment to tax officials of the final $1 million in back taxes and penalties he owed.
Weisselberg spent over $2 million in total.
Attorney & judge
Weisselberg’s attorney, Nicholas Gravante, stated that although Tuesday is a challenging day for the CFO, he has been prepared for months since entering the plea in August.
“Mr. Weisselberg came to court today ready to begin his sentence, and he is grateful that it has now begun,” said the attorney.
“He deeply regrets the lapse in judgment that resulted in his conviction, and he regrets it most because of the pain it has caused his loving wife, his sons, and wonderful grandchildren.”
According to New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the plea and sentencing illustrate that in Manhattan, “you have to play by the rules,” regardless of who you are or who you work for.
“Now, he and two Trump companies have been convinced of felonies, and Weisselberg will serve a jail sentence for his crimes,” he added.
Legal woes
The $250 million civil lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James also names Allen Weisselberg as a defendant.
She said that for more than a decade, the Trump Organization misled insurers, lenders, and tax authorities by inflating the value of various Trump Organization properties.
James named Trump, his three eldest children, Weisselberg, and other executives behind the schemes.
The former US President refuted the accusations and said the lawsuit was brought for political reasons.
Weisselberg said he consorted with others at the Trump Organization during his testimony at the tax fraud trial last year.
He talked about his exchanges with Donald Trump, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr.
He assured the jurors, nevertheless, that he didn’t plan anything or join forces with any Trump family members.
Two Trump Organization organizations were found guilty in December after two hours of deliberations on the following charges:
- Multiple charges of tax fraud
- Falsifying business records.
According to sources familiar with the issue, Allen Weisselberg left the Trump Organization on Tuesday, receiving a severance after a mutual split.
Other investigations
The Weisselberg sentencing comes after the Manhattan district attorney’s office’s ongoing investigation into the Trump Organization and concludes one of the longstanding probes.
The accuracy of the companies’ financial accounts is the subject of a thorough investigation by the prosecution.
The company’s role in the hush-money payments to keep adult film star Stormy Daniels from disclosing an affair with Donald Trump before the 2016 election has recently returned to the spotlight.
Trump, however, has refuted the affair.
References:
Allen Weisselberg, former Trump Org. CFO, sentenced to 5 months in jail
Trump Organization found guilty on all counts of criminal tax fraud
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