A jury in New York has found the Trump Organization guilty on 17 counts of tax fraud and falsifying records, the first conviction of the failed ex-president’s company since he left office in disgrace.
NBC News reports the jury deliberated for a little more than a day before handing down the verdict, which could result in stiff fines for Trump Org. and could also open the door for other prosecutors who are investigating possible criminal behavior by the one-term, twice-impeached former president.
The Trump Organization and Allen Weisselberg, its former longtime chief financial officer, were indicted last year after a multi-year investigation into the company’s financial practices by the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors alleged that two corporations that are a part of the company, Trump Corp. and Trump Payroll Corp., paid their “already highly paid executives,” including Weisselberg, even more by “cheating on their taxes” through a series of schemes that included off-the-books perks like luxury cars and free apartments.
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