Donald Trump's Company Trump Organization Guilty on All Counts of Criminal Tax Fraud
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's business, Trump Organization, has been found guilty on all charges of criminal tax fraud and other financial crimes.
More than a day of jury deliberations resulted in the conviction on all 17 counts. The case was founded on the long-time scheme, which included the Trump Organization giving its executives off-the-books luxury perks such as expensive apartments, leased Mercedes-Benzes, and private school tuition fees for relatives.
Prosecutors invoked the former president's name throughout the trial. However, they never formally indicted Trump.
Prosecutors told the jury that Trump personally paid for some of the perks and even approved "a crucial aspect of the scheme."
The company's conviction along with prosecutors' claim that Trump was "explicitly sanctioning tax fraud" could be a foundation for the district attorney's office to intensify its broader criminal investigation into the former president's business practices.
One of the company's lawyers, Alan Futerfas, said that Trump Organization would appeal the verdict.
Another company lawyer, Susan Necheles, said that they disagree with the jury's verdict while calling the case "unprecedented and legally incorrect."
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Trump Organization Guilty of Tax Fraud
Trump Organization was also found guilty of a scheme to defraud, conspiracy, and falsifying business records, aside from criminal tax fraud. The company is set to pay a fine worth roughly $1.6 million once it receives its sentence, which is set to happen in January 2023.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told the press that the case underscores that in Manhattan, they have "one standard of justice for all." Bragg also called the case one of "greed and cheating."
In a statement, the former president said that he was "disappointed with the verdict," but that they will appeal the case.
Trump continues to describe the case involving his company as "a continuation of the Greatest Political Witch Hunt in the History of our Country."
Meanwhile, Allen Weisselberg pleaded guilty to 15 felony charges in August. He was also the prosecutor's star witness.
Trump Organization also released a statement through their spokesperson, saying that it is "simply preposterous" that a company could be held responsible for an employee's actions.
Trump was not charged in the case. However, he complained about it on social media, saying that the district attorney's office had been "fighting a political Witch Hunt for D.C. against Trump."
Trump Organization
Weisselberg pleaded guilty to 15 felonies for failing to pay taxes on $1.76 million income. He will be sentenced to five months in jail if the judge finds that he testified truthfully, as part of his plea deal.
The former Trump Organization official said that he paid himself and other executives' bonuses as if they were independent consultants, which allowed the Trump companies to evade paying taxes to them.
Meanwhile, Trump Organization announced a new deal with a Saudi-based real estate company to license its name to a housing and golf complex that will be established in Oman amid the trial.
Trump and his three adult children currently face a lawsuit, aside from the criminal tax fraud case of the Trump Organization.
New York attorney general Letitia James alleged in a lawsuit that Trump and his children created a "staggering" fraud and while inflating their property valuations.
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Written by: Mary Webber
WATCH: Trump Organization companies found guilty of tax fraud in New York trial | full coverage - from CBS News