A top executive of former President Donald Trump’s family business pleaded guilty Thursday to tax evasion on a free apartment and other perks, striking a deal with prosecutors that could make him a star player against the company in a trial this fall. Allen Weiselberg, a senior adviser to the Trump Organization and the company’s former chief financial officer for many years, pleaded guilty to all 15 charges he faced in the case. In a low, somewhat husky voice, Weiselberg admitted to taking more than $1.7 million worth of tax-free perks — including college tuition for his grandchildren, free rent on a Manhattan apartment and lease payments on a luxury car — and expressly kept some of the plums away from the books. Judge Juan Manuel Merchan agreed to sentence the 75-year-old executive to five months at New York’s Rikers Island prison complex, although he will be eligible for release after just over three months if he behaves behind bars. The judge said Weiselberg must pay nearly $2 million in taxes, penalties and interest and complete five years’ probation. The plea agreement also requires Weiselberg to testify truthfully as a prosecution witness when the Trump Organization goes on trial in October on related charges. The company is accused of helping Weisselberg and other executives avoid income taxes by failing to accurately report their full compensation to the government. Trump himself has not been charged in the case. Weisselberg will remain free on bail pending formal sentencing following the company’s trial. She said nothing as she left court, not responding when a reporter asked if she had a message for Trump. If Weiselberg does not comply with the terms of the plea, prosecutors said they would seek a “significant prison term,” and Merchan warned he could face a maximum sentence on the top charge — grand larceny — of 15 years. Weiselberg’s attorney, Nicholas Gravante Jr., said his client pleaded guilty “to put an end to this case and the years of legal and personal nightmares it has caused him and his family.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement that Weiselberg’s plea “directly implicates the Trump Organization in a wide range of criminal activities and requires Weiselberg to provide invaluable testimony in the upcoming trial against the company.” “We look forward to proving our case in court against the Trump Organization,” he added. Weisselberg’s testimony could weaken the company’s defense. If convicted, the company could face fines up to twice the amount of unpaid taxes or possibly be placed on probation and forced to change its business practices. The company praised Weisselberg on Thursday as a reliable, honest employee who it said was “persecuted and threatened by law enforcement, particularly the Manhattan District Attorney, in their never-ending, politically motivated effort to get President Trump.” In a statement, the company accused prosecutors of trying to pressure Weiselberg to debunk Trump and of stretching to build a criminal case out of well-known executive perks, such as a company car. The company, which was not involved in Weisselberg’s guilty plea on Thursday, said it did nothing wrong, will not plead guilty and looks forward to “having our day in court.” Weiselberg, considered one of Trump’s most loyal business associates, is the only person to face criminal charges so far in the Manhattan district attorney’s long-running investigation into the company. Weiselberg began working for the Trump Organization in 1973, when it was run by Trump’s father, Fred. Following his arrest in July 2021, the company changed his title from CFO to senior advisor. The position of CFO remains vacant. Weiselberg agreed to plead guilty days after a court hearing where Merchan rejected his request to dismiss the charges. The judge rejected the defense’s argument that the DA’s office was punishing Weisselberg for not offering information that would damage Trump. The prosecutor also investigated whether Trump or his company lied to banks or the government about the value of his properties to get loans or lower tax bills. Then-U.S. Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who launched the probe, directed his deputies last year to present evidence to a grand jury and seek an indictment against Trump, according to former U.S. Attorney Mark Pomeranz, who previously led the investigation. But after Vance left in January, his successor, Bragg, allowed the grand jury to dissolve without charges. Both prosecutors are Democrats. Bragg said the investigation is ongoing. Prosecutors alleged the company provided tax-free fringe benefits to senior executives, including Weisselberg, for 15 years. Weisselberg alone was charged with defrauding the federal, state and city governments of more than $900,000 in unpaid taxes and wrongful tax refunds. Trump, a Republican, has decried the New York investigations as a “political witch hunt” and said his company’s actions were standard practice in the real estate industry and in no way constituted a crime. Last week, Trump sat down to testify in the parallel political investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James into allegations that Trump’s company misled lenders and tax authorities about property values. Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination more than 400 times. James, whose investigation uncovered the evidence that led to Weiselberg’s charges, said in a statement: “Let this guilty plea send a loud and clear message: we will crack down on anyone who steals from the public for personal gain, because no one is above law.” —— Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report.
title: “Weiselberg Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-28” author: “Jeffrey Hamilton”
A top executive of former President Donald Trump’s family business pleaded guilty Thursday to tax evasion on a free apartment and other perks, striking a deal with prosecutors that could make him a star player against the company in a trial this fall. Allen Weiselberg, a senior adviser to the Trump Organization and the company’s former chief financial officer for many years, pleaded guilty to all 15 charges he faced in the case. In a low, somewhat husky voice, Weiselberg admitted to taking more than $1.7 million worth of tax-free perks — including college tuition for his grandchildren, free rent on a Manhattan apartment and lease payments on a luxury car — and expressly kept some of the plums away from the books. Judge Juan Manuel Merchan agreed to sentence the 75-year-old executive to five months at New York’s Rikers Island prison complex, although he will be eligible for release after just over three months if he behaves behind bars. The judge said Weiselberg must pay nearly $2 million in taxes, penalties and interest and complete five years’ probation. The plea agreement also requires Weiselberg to testify truthfully as a prosecution witness when the Trump Organization goes on trial in October on related charges. The company is accused of helping Weisselberg and other executives avoid income taxes by failing to accurately report their full compensation to the government. Trump himself has not been charged in the case. Weisselberg will remain free on bail pending formal sentencing following the company’s trial. She said nothing as she left court, not responding when a reporter asked if she had a message for Trump. If Weiselberg does not comply with the terms of the plea, prosecutors said they would seek a “significant prison term,” and Merchan warned he could face a maximum sentence on the top charge — grand larceny — of 15 years. Weiselberg’s attorney, Nicholas Gravante Jr., said his client pleaded guilty “to put an end to this case and the years of legal and personal nightmares it has caused him and his family.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement that Weiselberg’s plea “directly implicates the Trump Organization in a wide range of criminal activities and requires Weiselberg to provide invaluable testimony in the upcoming trial against the company.” “We look forward to proving our case in court against the Trump Organization,” he added. Weisselberg’s testimony could weaken the company’s defense. If convicted, the company could face fines up to twice the amount of unpaid taxes or possibly be placed on probation and forced to change its business practices. The company praised Weisselberg on Thursday as a reliable, honest employee who it said was “persecuted and threatened by law enforcement, particularly the Manhattan District Attorney, in their never-ending, politically motivated effort to get President Trump.” In a statement, the company accused prosecutors of trying to pressure Weiselberg to debunk Trump and of stretching to build a criminal case out of well-known executive perks, such as a company car. The company, which was not involved in Weisselberg’s guilty plea on Thursday, said it did nothing wrong, will not plead guilty and looks forward to “having our day in court.” Weiselberg, considered one of Trump’s most loyal business associates, is the only person to face criminal charges so far in the Manhattan district attorney’s long-running investigation into the company. Weiselberg began working for the Trump Organization in 1973, when it was run by Trump’s father, Fred. Following his arrest in July 2021, the company changed his title from CFO to senior advisor. The position of CFO remains vacant. Weiselberg agreed to plead guilty days after a court hearing where Merchan rejected his request to dismiss the charges. The judge rejected the defense’s argument that the DA’s office was punishing Weisselberg for not offering information that would damage Trump. The prosecutor also investigated whether Trump or his company lied to banks or the government about the value of his properties to get loans or lower tax bills. Then-U.S. Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who launched the probe, directed his deputies last year to present evidence to a grand jury and seek an indictment against Trump, according to former U.S. Attorney Mark Pomeranz, who previously led the investigation. But after Vance left in January, his successor, Bragg, allowed the grand jury to dissolve without charges. Both prosecutors are Democrats. Bragg said the investigation is ongoing. Prosecutors alleged the company provided tax-free fringe benefits to senior executives, including Weisselberg, for 15 years. Weisselberg alone was charged with defrauding the federal, state and city governments of more than $900,000 in unpaid taxes and wrongful tax refunds. Trump, a Republican, has decried the New York investigations as a “political witch hunt” and said his company’s actions were standard practice in the real estate industry and in no way constituted a crime. Last week, Trump sat down to testify in the parallel political investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James into allegations that Trump’s company misled lenders and tax authorities about property values. Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination more than 400 times. James, whose investigation uncovered the evidence that led to Weiselberg’s charges, said in a statement: “Let this guilty plea send a loud and clear message: we will crack down on anyone who steals from the public for personal gain, because no one is above law.” —— Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report.
title: “Weiselberg Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-26” author: “Timothy Horne”
A top executive of former President Donald Trump’s family business pleaded guilty Thursday to tax evasion on a free apartment and other perks, striking a deal with prosecutors that could make him a star player against the company in a trial this fall. Allen Weiselberg, a senior adviser to the Trump Organization and the company’s former chief financial officer for many years, pleaded guilty to all 15 charges he faced in the case. In a low, somewhat husky voice, Weiselberg admitted to taking more than $1.7 million worth of tax-free perks — including college tuition for his grandchildren, free rent on a Manhattan apartment and lease payments on a luxury car — and expressly kept some of the plums away from the books. Judge Juan Manuel Merchan agreed to sentence the 75-year-old executive to five months at New York’s Rikers Island prison complex, although he will be eligible for release after just over three months if he behaves behind bars. The judge said Weiselberg must pay nearly $2 million in taxes, penalties and interest and complete five years’ probation. The plea agreement also requires Weiselberg to testify truthfully as a prosecution witness when the Trump Organization goes on trial in October on related charges. The company is accused of helping Weisselberg and other executives avoid income taxes by failing to accurately report their full compensation to the government. Trump himself has not been charged in the case. Weisselberg will remain free on bail pending formal sentencing following the company’s trial. She said nothing as she left court, not responding when a reporter asked if she had a message for Trump. If Weiselberg does not comply with the terms of the plea, prosecutors said they would seek a “significant prison term,” and Merchan warned he could face a maximum sentence on the top charge — grand larceny — of 15 years. Weiselberg’s attorney, Nicholas Gravante Jr., said his client pleaded guilty “to put an end to this case and the years of legal and personal nightmares it has caused him and his family.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement that Weiselberg’s plea “directly implicates the Trump Organization in a wide range of criminal activities and requires Weiselberg to provide invaluable testimony in the upcoming trial against the company.” “We look forward to proving our case in court against the Trump Organization,” he added. Weisselberg’s testimony could weaken the company’s defense. If convicted, the company could face fines up to twice the amount of unpaid taxes or possibly be placed on probation and forced to change its business practices. The company praised Weisselberg on Thursday as a reliable, honest employee who it said was “persecuted and threatened by law enforcement, particularly the Manhattan District Attorney, in their never-ending, politically motivated effort to get President Trump.” In a statement, the company accused prosecutors of trying to pressure Weiselberg to debunk Trump and of stretching to build a criminal case out of well-known executive perks, such as a company car. The company, which was not involved in Weisselberg’s guilty plea on Thursday, said it did nothing wrong, will not plead guilty and looks forward to “having our day in court.” Weiselberg, considered one of Trump’s most loyal business associates, is the only person to face criminal charges so far in the Manhattan district attorney’s long-running investigation into the company. Weiselberg began working for the Trump Organization in 1973, when it was run by Trump’s father, Fred. Following his arrest in July 2021, the company changed his title from CFO to senior advisor. The position of CFO remains vacant. Weiselberg agreed to plead guilty days after a court hearing where Merchan rejected his request to dismiss the charges. The judge rejected the defense’s argument that the DA’s office was punishing Weisselberg for not offering information that would damage Trump. The prosecutor also investigated whether Trump or his company lied to banks or the government about the value of his properties to get loans or lower tax bills. Then-U.S. Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who launched the probe, directed his deputies last year to present evidence to a grand jury and seek an indictment against Trump, according to former U.S. Attorney Mark Pomeranz, who previously led the investigation. But after Vance left in January, his successor, Bragg, allowed the grand jury to dissolve without charges. Both prosecutors are Democrats. Bragg said the investigation is ongoing. Prosecutors alleged the company provided tax-free fringe benefits to senior executives, including Weisselberg, for 15 years. Weisselberg alone was charged with defrauding the federal, state and city governments of more than $900,000 in unpaid taxes and wrongful tax refunds. Trump, a Republican, has decried the New York investigations as a “political witch hunt” and said his company’s actions were standard practice in the real estate industry and in no way constituted a crime. Last week, Trump sat down to testify in the parallel political investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James into allegations that Trump’s company misled lenders and tax authorities about property values. Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination more than 400 times. James, whose investigation uncovered the evidence that led to Weiselberg’s charges, said in a statement: “Let this guilty plea send a loud and clear message: we will crack down on anyone who steals from the public for personal gain, because no one is above law.” —— Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report.
title: “Weiselberg Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-01” author: “Hester Edwards”
A top executive of former President Donald Trump’s family business pleaded guilty Thursday to tax evasion on a free apartment and other perks, striking a deal with prosecutors that could make him a star player against the company in a trial this fall. Allen Weiselberg, a senior adviser to the Trump Organization and the company’s former chief financial officer for many years, pleaded guilty to all 15 charges he faced in the case. In a low, somewhat husky voice, Weiselberg admitted to taking more than $1.7 million worth of tax-free perks — including college tuition for his grandchildren, free rent on a Manhattan apartment and lease payments on a luxury car — and expressly kept some of the plums away from the books. Judge Juan Manuel Merchan agreed to sentence the 75-year-old executive to five months at New York’s Rikers Island prison complex, although he will be eligible for release after just over three months if he behaves behind bars. The judge said Weiselberg must pay nearly $2 million in taxes, penalties and interest and complete five years’ probation. The plea agreement also requires Weiselberg to testify truthfully as a prosecution witness when the Trump Organization goes on trial in October on related charges. The company is accused of helping Weisselberg and other executives avoid income taxes by failing to accurately report their full compensation to the government. Trump himself has not been charged in the case. Weisselberg will remain free on bail pending formal sentencing following the company’s trial. She said nothing as she left court, not responding when a reporter asked if she had a message for Trump. If Weiselberg does not comply with the terms of the plea, prosecutors said they would seek a “significant prison term,” and Merchan warned he could face a maximum sentence on the top charge — grand larceny — of 15 years. Weiselberg’s attorney, Nicholas Gravante Jr., said his client pleaded guilty “to put an end to this case and the years of legal and personal nightmares it has caused him and his family.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement that Weiselberg’s plea “directly implicates the Trump Organization in a wide range of criminal activities and requires Weiselberg to provide invaluable testimony in the upcoming trial against the company.” “We look forward to proving our case in court against the Trump Organization,” he added. Weisselberg’s testimony could weaken the company’s defense. If convicted, the company could face fines up to twice the amount of unpaid taxes or possibly be placed on probation and forced to change its business practices. The company praised Weisselberg on Thursday as a reliable, honest employee who it said was “persecuted and threatened by law enforcement, particularly the Manhattan District Attorney, in their never-ending, politically motivated effort to get President Trump.” In a statement, the company accused prosecutors of trying to pressure Weiselberg to debunk Trump and of stretching to build a criminal case out of well-known executive perks, such as a company car. The company, which was not involved in Weisselberg’s guilty plea on Thursday, said it did nothing wrong, will not plead guilty and looks forward to “having our day in court.” Weiselberg, considered one of Trump’s most loyal business associates, is the only person to face criminal charges so far in the Manhattan district attorney’s long-running investigation into the company. Weiselberg began working for the Trump Organization in 1973, when it was run by Trump’s father, Fred. Following his arrest in July 2021, the company changed his title from CFO to senior advisor. The position of CFO remains vacant. Weiselberg agreed to plead guilty days after a court hearing where Merchan rejected his request to dismiss the charges. The judge rejected the defense’s argument that the DA’s office was punishing Weisselberg for not offering information that would damage Trump. The prosecutor also investigated whether Trump or his company lied to banks or the government about the value of his properties to get loans or lower tax bills. Then-U.S. Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who launched the probe, directed his deputies last year to present evidence to a grand jury and seek an indictment against Trump, according to former U.S. Attorney Mark Pomeranz, who previously led the investigation. But after Vance left in January, his successor, Bragg, allowed the grand jury to dissolve without charges. Both prosecutors are Democrats. Bragg said the investigation is ongoing. Prosecutors alleged the company provided tax-free fringe benefits to senior executives, including Weisselberg, for 15 years. Weisselberg alone was charged with defrauding the federal, state and city governments of more than $900,000 in unpaid taxes and wrongful tax refunds. Trump, a Republican, has decried the New York investigations as a “political witch hunt” and said his company’s actions were standard practice in the real estate industry and in no way constituted a crime. Last week, Trump sat down to testify in the parallel political investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James into allegations that Trump’s company misled lenders and tax authorities about property values. Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination more than 400 times. James, whose investigation uncovered the evidence that led to Weiselberg’s charges, said in a statement: “Let this guilty plea send a loud and clear message: we will crack down on anyone who steals from the public for personal gain, because no one is above law.” —— Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report.
title: “Weiselberg Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-17” author: “Edward Cabada”
A top executive of former President Donald Trump’s family business pleaded guilty Thursday to tax evasion on a free apartment and other perks, striking a deal with prosecutors that could make him a star player against the company in a trial this fall. Allen Weiselberg, a senior adviser to the Trump Organization and the company’s former chief financial officer for many years, pleaded guilty to all 15 charges he faced in the case. In a low, somewhat husky voice, Weiselberg admitted to taking more than $1.7 million worth of tax-free perks — including college tuition for his grandchildren, free rent on a Manhattan apartment and lease payments on a luxury car — and expressly kept some of the plums away from the books. Judge Juan Manuel Merchan agreed to sentence the 75-year-old executive to five months at New York’s Rikers Island prison complex, although he will be eligible for release after just over three months if he behaves behind bars. The judge said Weiselberg must pay nearly $2 million in taxes, penalties and interest and complete five years’ probation. The plea agreement also requires Weiselberg to testify truthfully as a prosecution witness when the Trump Organization goes on trial in October on related charges. The company is accused of helping Weisselberg and other executives avoid income taxes by failing to accurately report their full compensation to the government. Trump himself has not been charged in the case. Weisselberg will remain free on bail pending formal sentencing following the company’s trial. She said nothing as she left court, not responding when a reporter asked if she had a message for Trump. If Weiselberg does not comply with the terms of the plea, prosecutors said they would seek a “significant prison term,” and Merchan warned he could face a maximum sentence on the top charge — grand larceny — of 15 years. Weiselberg’s attorney, Nicholas Gravante Jr., said his client pleaded guilty “to put an end to this case and the years of legal and personal nightmares it has caused him and his family.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement that Weiselberg’s plea “directly implicates the Trump Organization in a wide range of criminal activities and requires Weiselberg to provide invaluable testimony in the upcoming trial against the company.” “We look forward to proving our case in court against the Trump Organization,” he added. Weisselberg’s testimony could weaken the company’s defense. If convicted, the company could face fines up to twice the amount of unpaid taxes or possibly be placed on probation and forced to change its business practices. The company praised Weisselberg on Thursday as a reliable, honest employee who it said was “persecuted and threatened by law enforcement, particularly the Manhattan District Attorney, in their never-ending, politically motivated effort to get President Trump.” In a statement, the company accused prosecutors of trying to pressure Weiselberg to debunk Trump and of stretching to build a criminal case out of well-known executive perks, such as a company car. The company, which was not involved in Weisselberg’s guilty plea on Thursday, said it did nothing wrong, will not plead guilty and looks forward to “having our day in court.” Weiselberg, considered one of Trump’s most loyal business associates, is the only person to face criminal charges so far in the Manhattan district attorney’s long-running investigation into the company. Weiselberg began working for the Trump Organization in 1973, when it was run by Trump’s father, Fred. Following his arrest in July 2021, the company changed his title from CFO to senior advisor. The position of CFO remains vacant. Weiselberg agreed to plead guilty days after a court hearing where Merchan rejected his request to dismiss the charges. The judge rejected the defense’s argument that the DA’s office was punishing Weisselberg for not offering information that would damage Trump. The prosecutor also investigated whether Trump or his company lied to banks or the government about the value of his properties to get loans or lower tax bills. Then-U.S. Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who launched the probe, directed his deputies last year to present evidence to a grand jury and seek an indictment against Trump, according to former U.S. Attorney Mark Pomeranz, who previously led the investigation. But after Vance left in January, his successor, Bragg, allowed the grand jury to dissolve without charges. Both prosecutors are Democrats. Bragg said the investigation is ongoing. Prosecutors alleged the company provided tax-free fringe benefits to senior executives, including Weisselberg, for 15 years. Weisselberg alone was charged with defrauding the federal, state and city governments of more than $900,000 in unpaid taxes and wrongful tax refunds. Trump, a Republican, has decried the New York investigations as a “political witch hunt” and said his company’s actions were standard practice in the real estate industry and in no way constituted a crime. Last week, Trump sat down to testify in the parallel political investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James into allegations that Trump’s company misled lenders and tax authorities about property values. Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination more than 400 times. James, whose investigation uncovered the evidence that led to Weiselberg’s charges, said in a statement: “Let this guilty plea send a loud and clear message: we will crack down on anyone who steals from the public for personal gain, because no one is above law.” —— Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report.
