The former president’s real estate company Donald Trump misled tax authorities for a 15-year period, a New York attorney said Monday in his statement opening criminal prosecution for tax fraud of Trump organization.
The case is among the growing legal problems facing 76-year-old Trump as he considers another presidential race after losing in 2020.
From at least 2005 to 2021, the Trump Organization paid executives – including its CFO, Allen Weisselberg – in perks like rentals and car rentals without reporting those perks to tax authorities, Susan Hoffinger of the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. . Manhattan district.
The scheme was led, directed and authorized at the highest levels of the company’s accounting department, “Hoffinger said.” Everyone wins here … Everyone except the IRS. The problem with doing it this way is that it’s not legal. “
The Trump Organization has pleaded not guilty. Trump was not charged in the case.
Susan Necheles, a lawyer for Trump Corporation, one of the two Trump Organization units indicted in the case, said the trial involves Weisselberg’s personal tax returns.
Keep in mind the extreme pressure Mr. Weisselberg is under, “Necheles said.
This starts with Allen Weisselberg and ends with Allen Weisselberg “.
Weisselberg evaded taxes on $ 1.76 million in personal income through luxury perks, such as renting an apartment in Manhattan. He agreed to testify as a prosecution witness at the trial as part of a five-month prison sentence.
If convicted, the Trump Organization, which operates hotels, golf courses and other properties around the world, could face fines of up to $ 1.6 million. It could also further complicate the real estate company’s ability to do business.
A unanimous verdict is required to convict each allegation of tax fraud, fraud scheme and forgery of business records.
*** mjpr ***
