Two Trump companies would face $1.6 million in fines 1:54
(CNN) --
Allen Weisselberg, who worked as chief financial officer for former President Donald Trump for many years, was sentenced by a New York judge to five months in prison for his role in a decade-long tax fraud scheme, after testify as a State's witness against the Trump Organization.
After the court hearing, Weisselberg, 75, is expected to appear at Rikers Island, the well-known New York jail, to immediately begin serving his sentence.
Last August, Weisselberg pleaded guilty to 15 counts under a plea bargain.
As part of the deal, he was required to testify honestly in the Trump Organization trial, pay $2 million in back taxes, interest and penalties, and waive any rights to appeal.
Weisselberg admitted that he would have had to pay taxes on off-the-books compensation totaling about $200,000 in a single year, which included a luxury Manhattan apartment overlooking the Hudson River, two leased Mercedes Benzes, parking, utilities , furniture and tuition at a private school for his grandchildren.
Judge Juan Merchan said Tuesday that if he had not already committed to a five-month sentence for Weisselberg, he would have handed down a "much higher" sentence after hearing evidence at trial.
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Without an agreement, Weisselberg faced between 5 and 15 years in prison.
Merchan called the $6,000 fraudulent paycheck Weisselberg made in his wife's name to make her eligible for Social Security benefits the "most offensive" of the crimes, which the judge said were driven by greed. of the executive of the Trump Organization.
Merchan added that he felt compelled to share this opinion in response to Weisselberg's attorney, who requested an even lesser sentence for his client given his age and other factors.
The veteran Trump Organization executive abided by the terms of his plea agreement, a Manhattan prosecutor told the court before Merchan handed down the sentence.
Prosecutors noted that Weisselberg testified truthfully against two Trump companies convicted in connection with the tax fraud scheme in December, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger said.
Weisselberg also paid the remaining balance of just over $1 million in back taxes and penalties he owed to tax authorities last week, Hoffinger confirmed.
In total he paid more than US$2 million.
Weisselberg's attorney, Nicholas Gravante, said Tuesday that "it's obviously a difficult day for him, but it's a day he's been preparing for for many months, ever since he pleaded guilty last August."
"Mr. Weisselberg arrived in court today ready to begin his sentence and is grateful that it has already begun," Gravante said. "He is deeply sorry for the misjudgment that resulted in his sentencing, and even more so for the pain it has caused him." to his loving wife, his children and his wonderful grandchildren”.
For his part, New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the guilty plea and sentencing show that “in Manhattan, you have to follow the rules no matter who you are or who you work for.”
“Now he and two Trump companies have been convicted of felonies and Weisselberg will serve a jail sentence for his crimes,” Bragg added.
Will there be more sentences?
The conviction ends a lengthy investigation, but comes as the Manhattan District Attorney's Office continues to investigate the Trump Organization.
Prosecutors are conducting a wide-ranging investigation involving the accuracy of companies' financial statements, and in recent months their focus has returned to the company's involvement in hush-money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and not to go public with an affair with Trump just before the 2016 election, people familiar with the matter said.
Trump has always denied the romance.
Weisselberg's legal troubles are not over.
He is also a defendant in a $250 million civil lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who alleges that Trump, his three eldest children, Weisselberg and others defrauded lenders, insurers and tax authorities by inflating the value of multiple Trump Organization properties for over a decade.
Trump denied any wrongdoing and said the lawsuit was politically motivated.
Given his good conduct, Weisselberg could be sentenced to a third of his sentence, which means he could end up serving around 100 days in prison.
Trump Organization Found Guilty of All Tax Fraud Charges Against It
In testimony at the Trump Organization tax fraud trial late last year, Weisselberg said he conspired with others at the company and described conversations he had with Trump and his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., but he told the jury when cross-examined by Trump's lawyers that he did not plot or conspire with anyone in the Trump family.
Last month, after a few hours of deliberations, two Trump Organization entities were convicted on multiple counts of tax fraud and falsifying business records.
Lawyers for the companies said they will appeal.
Allen WeisselbergDonald TrumpTrump Organization