Trump Organization Found Guilty on All Counts of Tax Fraud, Other Crimes
Donald Trump’s sprawling real estate company was convicted Tuesday of tax fraud and other financial crimes in a stunning and high-profile rebuke of the former president’s business, which comes as he launches an already-embattled bid for president in 2024.
Jurors found the organization guilty on all 17 counts on the second day of deliberations. The verdict capped a trial during which the Trump Organization was accused of running a years-long fraud scheme perpetuated by the company’s top executives, in which some executives avoided paying taxes on perks like upscale apartments, luxury cars and private school tuition for relatives. Prosecutors did not indict Trump himself but accused him of knowing what was going on.
The Manhattan District attorney’s office, which brought the case against two Trump business entities, previously secured a guilty plea from former executive Allen Weisselberg, whom prosecutors painted as the architect of the plan. Much of the trial hinged on Weisselberg’s testimony.
The ensuing punishment will likely not be severe enough to meaningfully impact the company. The Trump Organization could be fined up to $1.6 million.
Trump has maintained that the investigation and trial were politically motivated attacks.
