Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg was charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C felony, for failing to pay taxes on $1.7 million in income from the Trump Organization. Weisselberg pleaded not guilty, and he was released on personal recognizance without bail.
The charges specify that through deception, Weisselberg avoided paying approximately $556,000 in federal taxes, $106,000 in state taxes and $245,000 in New York City taxes.
Assistant District Attorney Kerry Dunn told the court that today’s alleged criminal activity was “orchestrated by the most senior executives” of the Trump Organization. “The Chief Financial Officer himself avoided taxes of $1.7 million dollars.” He called it a sweeping and audacious illegal payment scheme. “This case is not about politics; this investigation, which is ongoing, is proper.”
The charge can lead to a sentence ranging from probation or up to 15 years. It is presumed that the charges relate to only taxes avoided on the state level.