Trump Organisation’s former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg has been sentenced to five months jail for tax fraud. Weisselberg, 75, will serve his sentence at the infamous Riker Island jail.
He pleaded guilty to tax fraud in August stating that between 2005 and 2017 he and other executives received bonuses and perks that saved the company and themselves money. He basically orchestrated a 15-year tax fraud scheme at the Trump Organisation.
The sentence for Allen Weisselberg
The sentence was imposed by Justice Juan Merchan in New York’s state court.
Allen Weisselberg was also the star prosecution witness in the criminal trial of the Trump’s real estate company.
The former CFO also paid about $2 million in taxes, penalties and interest as part of his punishment and will most likely serve about 3 months of his prison sentence with the remaining time off for good behavior.
Weisselberg testified that Trump did sign bonus checks and other documents but was not in on the tax fraud scheme. Trump has not been charged for this and has denied any knowledge of it.
Allen Weisselberg is said to have evaded more than $1.7 million in taxes on an unreported income and enjoyed company provided perks that included the rent on his Manhattan apartment, the leases on cars for himself and his wife and tuition for his grandchildren.
However Riker Island jail is definitely not going to be a cakewalk for him as the prison is known for violence, drugs and corruption according to a Reuters report. The news agency also reported that 19 people died there last year.
Rikers Island
“You’re going into a Byzantine black hole,” said prison consultant Craig Rothfeld.
Convicts in New York City facing one year or less behind bars generally get sentenced to Rikers Island. Rothfeld said he has advised Weisselberg not to go outside while at Rikers because of the risk of violence in the courtyards and not to socialize or speak to any of the inmates unnecessarily.
“The goal is to keep to yourself,” said Rothfeld.
Rikers Island jail is supposed to close down in 2027.
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