Podcast Summary
Allen Weisselberg's Sentencing: A Plea Deal, Not Cooperation: Allen Weisselberg, the former CFO of the Trump Organization, was sentenced to 5 months in Rikers Island as part of a plea deal, not a cooperation agreement.
Allen Weisselberg, the former CFO of the Trump Organization who cooperated with prosecutors during their criminal trial, was sentenced to 5 months in Rikers Island as part of a plea deal. However, there were some intriguing aspects to the sentencing hearing. Weisselberg pled guilty to all 15 felony charges against him, but it was not a cooperation agreement. Instead, it was a plea agreement, which meant Weisselberg was seeking to know what sentence the prosecution would recommend if he pleaded guilty. The prosecution recommended 6 months at Rikers followed by 5 years of probation, but they argued for leniency due to Weisselberg's age. Weisselger's detailed allocution, where he discussed the facts of the case, was a condition of his plea agreement and resulted in the agreed-upon sentence. Despite the agreed-upon nature of the sentencing, the hearing provided some interesting insights into the legal process.
Age and health impact sentencing for a 75-year-old teacher: Judge reduced a 6-month sentence to 5 months for a 75-year-old teacher due to his age and health issues, recognizing the difference in serving time at an older age.
The age and health condition of a defendant, as well as their past service to the community, can significantly impact their sentencing. In this case, a 75-year-old public school teacher and veteran, who had pleaded guilty to a crime, made an appeal to the judge for leniency due to his advanced age and health issues. The judge, recognizing the difference in serving time at an older age, reduced the sentence from 6 months to 5 months. It's important to note that Rikers Island, where the defendant would serve his time, is known for its notoriously violent and dangerous conditions. The defendant would serve approximately 3-4 months of his 5-month sentence, making every day spent outside of incarceration crucial. The prosecution, led by a former defense attorney, Susan Hoffinger, advocated for the original recommendation, emphasizing the seriousness of the crime. Despite the challenges of the prison system, it's essential to understand the impact of sentencing on individuals and their lives.
Alan Weisselberg Admits to Trump Org Tax Fraud Schemes from 2005 to 2018: High-ranking Trump Organization executive Alan Weisselberg pleaded guilty to tax fraud schemes from 2005 to 2018, implicating others and facing potential federal charges.
That Alan Weisselberg, a high-ranking executive at the Trump Organization, pleaded guilty to tax fraud schemes in August 2021 and was sentenced in January 2022. During his plea allocution, he detailed the crimes he committed and the timeframe they occurred, which was from around 2005 to 2018. He also testified truthfully about these crimes during the trial, implicating others like Matthew Calamari. At sentencing, Weisselberg appeared dressed in combat fatigues, indicating his expectation to be remanded to jail. Despite this, no recognizable family members or Trump Organization members were present in the courtroom during the sentencing. Weisselberg waived his right to appeal, paid back taxes and penalties to New York State and New York City tax authorities, and still faces potential federal tax evasion charges. He testified for three days during the trial and admitted to all the crimes.
Allen Weisselberg's Sentencing: Prosecution's Case Against Trump Organization's CFO: Prosecution presented evidence of Weisselberg's tax evasion through 'grossed up raises' and other creative compensation practices, saving Trump Organization significant taxes.
Key takeaway from the sentencing of Allen Weisselberg is that the prosecution presented evidence that he, as a high managerial agent of the Trump Organization, received significant benefits in the form of perks and bonuses, which the company did not have to pay taxes on due to creative compensation practices. These practices included "grossed up raises," where the company paid double the amount to the employee so they could net the desired salary while avoiding payroll taxes. The prosecution argued that these practices saved the Trump Organization a substantial amount of money, and Weisselberg's sudden request for a raise in 2019, after these practices were discontinued, could be seen as evidence of guilt.
Judge denies leniency for defendant's role in Social Security fraud: Despite cooperation, age, and lack of criminal history, a judge refused to reduce a sentence below 5 months due to the defendant's involvement in a Social Security fraud scheme, which involved putting a family member on payroll to defraud the system.
The judge, despite defense attorney's pleas for leniency, refused to reduce the sentence below 5 months due to the defendant's involvement in a Social Security fraud scheme. The defense attorney emphasized the defendant's cooperation, age, lack of criminal history, and impact on his family. However, the judge, who had presided over the trial, felt compelled to address the significant fact that the defendant had put his wife on payroll solely for her to contribute to Social Security, which the judge believed was a greed-driven act that contributed to the potential bankruptcy of the Social Security system. The judge, while acknowledging the defendant's military and teaching background, ultimately felt that the defendant deserved a stiffer sentence for his role in the fraud.
Weisselberg's lawyer tried for leniency, judge commented on severity: Judge's promise of a specific sentence for Weisselberg limited leniency request, upcoming sentencing for Trump Organization and Payroll with potential fines of up to $1.8 million
During Allen Weisselberg's sentencing, Futterfoss, his defense lawyer, attempted to lower the sentence, which led the judge to comment that Weisselberg deserved a more severe sentence. Although it may be seen as a mistake in the court of public opinion, the judge had already promised a specific sentence, and Futterfoss likely had to ask to secure the slightest chance for leniency. Another key point is that the sentencing for the Trump Organization and Trump Payroll is upcoming, with potential fines totaling up to $1.8 million based on the number of felony convictions.
Trump Organization Executive Sentenced to Prison for Financial Scheme: Allen Weisselberg, a top executive at the Trump Organization, was sentenced to five months in prison for his role in a 13-year-long financial scheme. The Trump Organization faces potential consequences from the case.
Allen Weisselberg, a top executive at the Trump Organization, was sentenced to five months in prison, with two and a half months to serve at Rikers Island, and the remaining time under home confinement. The sentencing came after a 13-year-long financial scheme was uncovered, dating back to the 1980s. During the sentencing, there was speculation about potential conditions that could be imposed on the Trump Organization. If such conditions are imposed, it could potentially irritate former President Donald Trump. The trial, which began in 2005, revealed that the financial scheme had been ongoing for a significant period of time. As advocates for justice and accountability, we at Midas Touch will continue to report on developments related to this case and the potential consequences for the Trump Organization. Stay tuned for further updates on Friday when the Trump Organization's sentencing is expected to take place.
