Trump faces possibility of conviction in Trump Organization case

Former US President Donald Trump faces the possibility of a conviction in the Trump Organization case, according to experts.

Trump wasn’t charged in the indictment that was delivered on Thursday against the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, but that doesn’t mean the case doesn’t include some potentially dangerous legal implications for the real estate mogul, The Hill reported on Sunday.

Prosecutors accused the company of funneling off-the-books income in whichWeisselberg and other executives were involved, suggesting that other Trump Organization leaders were involved.

Prosecutors have been said to be investigating the case in a way that they may try to secure Weisselberg's cooperation in order to turn their sights on Trump himself.

Trump on Saturday condemned the fraud and conspiracy charges filed against the Trump Organization and Weisselberg.

Speaking at a rally in Sarasota, Florida, Trump accused New York City prosecutors of “prosecutorial misconduct,” adding, “They've mobilized every power of government to come after me, my family, my wonderful employees and my company solely because of politics.”

“It's a terrible, terrible thing,” he told supporters gathered at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance (D) may have Trump in mind, andWeisselbergmay turn against the former president to escape the possibility of a conviction and a potential prison sentence.

“In any other investigation of a company, a CFO would be considered a major target,” said Daniel R. Alonso, a former chief assistant district attorney and federal prosecutor. “If a CFO is orchestrating the kind of financial fraud that's alleged in the indictment, that's a big deal. And the only question then is, who else was in on it? And here because of who the head of the company is, that question looms large.”

Weisselberg was a natural first target for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office because of his role in the company, and his relationship with Trump and the evidence that prosecutors appear to have collected, said E. Danya Perry, a former federal prosecutor and deputy state attorney general in New York. 

“The DA's office would love to flip Weisselberg, there's no question about that,” Perry said. “He has described himself as the eyes and ears of the Trump Organization. He is the top lieutenant. He's got his fingerprints all over the organization's financials. And he was the other guy in the room with Donald Trump. So there's no question that they were going to scrutinize him extra hard to try and be as persuasive as possible to, shall we say, encourage his cooperation.”

Vance’s office has filed more than a dozen criminal charges against Weisselberg and the Trump Organization, including fraud, conspiracy and falsifying business records. The CFO could be sentenced to serve up to 15 years in prison if he got convicted.  

On Thursday, both Weisselberg and the Trump Organization pleaded not guilty, and said they have not done any wrongdoing.

“Today in New York City, violent crime continues to steadily rise to levels not seen in decades. Subway slashings, gun violence and hate crimes have become an every-day occurrence, with random shootings even happening in the middle of Times Square. Yet, instead of focusing on protecting the people of New York, the District Attorney has instead devoted countless resources for the sole purpose of targeting the former President,” a Trump Organization spokesperson said in a statement this week.

Trump in his own statement said, “The political Witch Hunt by the Radical Left Democrats, with New York now taking over the assignment, continues. It is dividing our Country like never before!”

According to the prosecutors’ court filings, the Trump Organization allegedly financed Weisselberg’s luxurious lifestyle, paying the rent for his Manhattan apartment, his living expenses, lease payments on his car and private school tuition for a relative. The executive was engaged in a scheme to funnel off-the-books income to himself and other executives at the company.

Weisselbergallegedly received over $1.7 million over a 15-year period that he never reported as taxable income.

Trump company's CFO surrenders ahead of criminal tax charges

The chief financial officer (CFO) of the Trump Organization has surrendered to authorities as he prepares to face criminal charges.

Weisselberg on Thursday surrendered to authorities to face criminal charges.

Weisselberg, a longtime friend of Trump, has served as the CFO of the Trump Organization for about 40 years and many believe that he could be a key source of information for investigators.

The charges against Weisselberg are part of an ongoing investigation into Trump's real estate empire, which has been hanging over the former president’s head since he left office in January. Trump has called the investigations a "witch hunt" by politically-motivated prosecutors.

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