
Allen Weisselberg, a longtime Trump Organization CFO, pleaded guilty to 15 criminal tax fraud charges Thursday—admitting to conspiring in a scheme to avoid paying taxes on corporate benefits—marking a blow to the former president’s family business as it prepares for trial on related charges in October.
Weisselberg, who was indicted on tax fraud charges last summer, is charged with grand larceny and avoiding tax payments on more than $1.7 million in corporate benefits from the Trump Organization over the 16-year scheme, including car payments, school tuition and rent.
Under the plea deal, Weisselberg, who was facing up to 15 years behind bars for grand larceny under New York state law, now faces five months in prison, and is likely to serve as little as 100 days for good behavior, the New York Times reported (the grand larceny charge carries no mandatory minimum under state law).