Former Trump Organization chief financial officer pleads guilty

Alan Weiselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, has pleaded guilty in a New York court to using former President Donald Trump’s company to evade taxes. The 75-year-old repeatedly answered “yes, your honor” to several questions from Judge Juan Mercant, US media reported in unison from the courtroom. Accordingly, he pleaded guilty to a total of 15 charges, including conspiracy, tax fraud, grand theft and falsifying business documents.

Along with his guilty plea, the top manager agreed to a plea deal to avoid up to 15 years in prison. In return, if public prosecutors want to subpoena him, Weiselberg will have to testify against the company at the hearing — but not against Trump. Weiselberg must pay a fine of almost two million US dollars (1.98 million euros) and serve five months in prison. .

“In one of the most difficult decisions of his life, Mr. Weiselberg decided to plead guilty today to end this case and the years of legal and personal nightmares it has caused him and his family,” said his attorney, Nicholas Gravante. Jr. According to media reports.

In early July of last year, the Attorney General’s Office filed criminal charges against the Trump Organization’s business practices after a years-long investigation. Along with family members, Weiselberg is considered a key figure in the company. Donald Trump was once known as a real estate mogul as head of the Trump Organization, which owns several small companies. He is considered to be very closely intertwined with his corporate empire.