Former President Donald Trump’s real estate company had evaded tax officials for nearly 15 years, a New York prosecutor told a jury Monday at the start of the Trump Organization’s criminal trial on tax evasion charges.
Susan Hoffinger, of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, said the Trump Organization paid executives — including financial director Allen Weisselberg — between 2005 and 2021 for benefits such as real estate and car rentals without notifying tax officials.
“This case is about greed and tax fraud,” Hoffinger said. “The plan was executed, directed and authorized at the highest levels of the company’s accounting department.”
Statements from attorneys for the two accused Trump units, known as the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation, are expected later on Monday.
If found guilty, the company that operates hotels, golf courses and other real estate worldwide could face fines of up to $1.6 million. It can also complicate the company’s ability to do business.
Trump, who is considering running for the White House in 2024, is not blamed. The Trump Organization pleaded not guilty.
A panel of 12 jurors and six substitutes was selected last week for the trial in New York court.
The trial is expected to last more than a month. A unanimous decision is required for any conviction for tax fraud, conspiracy fraud, and falsification of business records.
source: Noticias
