Former longtime Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg will testify in a forthcoming criminal tax fraud trial against the organization, according to reports.
Jury selection for the trial is expected to begin Monday in New York City, Business Insider (BI) reported. Former President Donald Trump has not been personally charged in the case.
Former longtime Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg expected to be star witness in company’s tax fraud trial https://t.co/zJqMcNrUK3
— Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) October 23, 2022
Weisselberg on Aug. 18 pleaded guilty to 15 counts of tax evasion and fraud related to $1.76 million in unreported income. He is required to testify as part of his plea agreement, BI reported. (RELATED: Trump Organization CFO Turns Himself In To Face Tax-Related Charges)
Weisselberg admitted to withholding income taxes and helping with a scheme that enabled the Trump Organization to avoid paying payroll taxes. He allegedly received untaxed incentives from the Trump Organization, including housing, lease payments for the multiple Mercedez-Benz vehicles he owns, and other benefits.
Weisselberg was sentenced to five months in jail and five years of probation and, in addition, was required to pay almost $2 million in fines to the New York City and New York State tax authorities, all of which is dependent on him testifying against the Trump Organization in court. If he does not testify truthfully, he could face up to 15 years in prison, BI reported, citing Weisselberg’s attorney, Nicholas Gravante.
Prosecutors are expected to ask Weisselberg about other senior executives in the Trump Organization, according to BI. If the Trump Organization is found guilty, the company will reportedly be required to pay approximately $1.6 million in taxes and fines.
New York Attorney General Letitia James filed the lawsuit following a three-year investigation into the Trump Organization and the Trump family. She is hoping to block Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump from ever being an officer in any New York-licensed or registered corporation.
Trump accused prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney’s office of “searching for a crime” and being “totally biased” during the investigation.