Weisselberg and the Trump Organization: Individuals Companies Criminally Charged

When Donald Trump’s chief financial officer for Trump’s businesses pleaded guilty to a range of white-collar crimes, he did so in exchange for a lighter sentence.  Instead of years of imprisonment, Alan Weisselberg will spend just five months behind bars and another five years on probation. The guilty plea, combined with an agreement to testify against the Trump Organization—not Trump himself– and nearly $2 million in fines and back taxes, was viewed as a good deal by Weisselberg and his attorneys, noting that 15 years in prison might mean the 75-year- old would never experience freedom again. The government benefits by getting the skinny on how illegal practices permeated the Trump Organization, with a potential of ultimately shutting down operations altogether in New York.

The Charges 

Mr. Weisselberg was accused of, and copped to, some serious crimes, including grand larceny, conspiracy to commit fraud, falsification of business records, and tax evasion—15 felonies in all. Mr. Trump himself has not been personally charged with anything, although the family business profited by evading payroll taxes on huge sums of money.  The Trump Organization, therefore, and not Trump personally, is a defendant in a current case, looking at the same charges Weisselberg confessed to.

Why Charge a Company?

There are real benefits to charging a corporation rather than individual executives in cases like this.  This is true when illegal actions have been going on for a lengthy time period and are ubiquitous, making it difficult to institute changes. Particularly in cases like this one, where the company has shown no interest in addressing the wrongdoing on its own, legal action is often warranted. The penalties and fines associated with a successful prosecution can accomplish a number of things, including:

• Millions—even billions of dollars can be recouped from the business;
• It can result in changes to business operations;
• It often encourages individuals to cooperate with parallel investigations;
• It sends a powerful message of intolerance to industries that play fast and loose with the rules.

When are Prosecutors Hesitant to Charge a Business?

In some cases prosecutors are reluctant to prosecute businesses because it can result in the needless harming of innocent employees or businesses.  That’s because companies often choose to close their doors the minute a legal charge is filed, putting people out of work.

Defending Charges

At Lobo Law, our experienced Las Vegas white collar defense attorneys are familiar with the thinking and procedures associated with cases like this.  If you are facing  similar circumstances, you need adept and creative legal work on your behalf.  To discuss the possibilities, schedule a confidential consultation in our office today.

Source:

npr.org/2022/08/19/1118365588/allen-weisselberg-trump-organization-ex-cfo-pleads-guilty-to-felony-charges