Two companies of the Trump Organisation were convicted Tuesday by a jury in New York City of multiple crimes, including criminal tax fraud, falsifying business records linked to a 15-year scheme to defraud tax authorities by failing to report, pay taxes on compensation, and conspiracy.
The Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corporation were found guilty on all charges they faced. The guilty verdicts on all 17 charges come three weeks following company owner and Republican former President Donald Trump’s declaration of candidacy for the White House in the 2024 election.
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Donald Trump and his family were not charged in this case, related to a scheme by his company since 2005 to avoid taxes on compensation in the form of perks including free apartments, personal expenses, and luxury cars to then-chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg and other executives.
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The former president was mentioned repeatedly during the trial by prosecutors about his connection to the case. Trump “knew exactly what was going on,” a prosecutor said in closing arguments last week in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Jurors started deliberations on Monday after a trial that featured testimony by Weisselberg, the only person charged in the case by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr.’s office.
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Defense lawyers had argued that Weisselberg was solely responsible for the scheme, not the Trump Organisation. Earlier, Weisselberg pleaded guilty to 15 felony charges.
The company faces fines of up to $1.6 million at sentencing in the case. The verdict could also affect the organization’s ability to obtain loans for its various real estate holdings and other business ventures.
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Donald Trump, three of his adult children, and the Trump Organisation still face a pending civil case by New York Attorney General Letitia James that alleges widespread fraud involving years of false financial statements related to the company. James is demanding at least $250 million in damages in that case