Allen Weisselberg's lawyers tell judge more 'indictments are coming' in tax-fraud case as former Trump CFO appears in NY court

 Trump Organization Chief Financial 0fficer Allen Weisselberg returned to court Monday for a hearing on his tax evasion charges, as his lawyer said there is 'strong reason to believe' more indictments are coming in a New York investigation into the former president's property empire. 

Weisselberg, who has been employed by the Trump family for almost five decades, appeared at the New York State Court in Manhattan along with his attorney Bryan Scarlatos. 

In July, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr charged the Trump Organization and Weisselberg with a 15-count indictment on tax crimes. 

Weisselberg, 74, is accused of assisting the organization in defrauding taxpayers for over 15 years by paying executive employees with untaxed benefits and taking for himself $1.7million worth of 'indirect compensation' without alerting tax authorities. 

'We have strong reason to believe there could be other indictments coming,' said Scarlatos. 'Mr Weisselberg is separate from the Trump Organization. He is the only individual here whose liberty is at stake.

'What I am concerned about is that he will become collateral damage in a larger fight between the Trump Organization and the DA's office.'

Allen Weisselberg, who has been employed by the Trump family for almost five decades, appeared at the New York State Court in Manhattan along with his attorney Bryan Scarlatos

Allen Weisselberg, who has been employed by the Trump family for almost five decades, appeared at the New York State Court in Manhattan along with his attorney Bryan Scarlatos

The Trump Organization's Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg appears in State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Monday

The Trump Organization's Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg appears in State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Monday

Weisselberg has pleaded not guilty to charges he collected more than $1.7 million in off-the-books compensation, including apartment rent, car payments and school tuition

Weisselberg has pleaded not guilty to charges he collected more than $1.7 million in off-the-books compensation, including apartment rent, car payments and school tuition

After the hearing Weisselburg and his entourage was forced to wait for about 10 minutes in front of the courthosue for his car to arrive

After the hearing Weisselburg and his entourage was forced to wait for about 10 minutes in front of the courthosue for his car to arrive

Allen Weisselberg waits as his security call for his car after departing Manhattan Criminal Courthouse.  'What I am concerned about is that he will become collateral damage in a larger fight between the Trump Organization and the DA's office,' said Weisselberg's lawyer

Allen Weisselberg waits as his security call for his car after departing Manhattan Criminal Courthouse.  'What I am concerned about is that he will become collateral damage in a larger fight between the Trump Organization and the DA's office,' said Weisselberg's lawyer


The lawyer raised the issue of more possible indictments while arguing for adequate time to review up to six million pages of documents he said prosecutors are turning over as evidence, calling it 'a Herculean task' and saying new indictments would create a 'moving target'.

Prosecutors said Weisselberg is 'no stranger' to many of the documents because they include Trump Organization's business records that the executive is likely to have produced or reviewed as part of his job.

Judge Juan Manuel Merchan gave both sides until next spring to file motions in the case. He said he would decide on motions at a July 12 hearing, the next time Weisselberg is due in court. 

His trial is expected to take place in late August or early September next year.

Weisselberg's most serious charged offense, grand larceny, carries five to 15 years in prison. He was removed as officer of several subsidiaries of the company shortly after he was indicted, The Wall Street Journal reported.  

Donald Trump, who has not been charged in the case, said that the charges against his organization and former CFO are politically motivated.   

Weisselberg's lawyer said there is 'strong reason to believe' more indictments are coming in a New York investigation into the former president's property empire

Weisselberg's lawyer said there is 'strong reason to believe' more indictments are coming in a New York investigation into the former president's property empire

The lawyer argued for adequate time to review up to six million pages of documents he said prosecutors are turning over as evidence

The lawyer argued for adequate time to review up to six million pages of documents he said prosecutors are turning over as evidence

Prosecutors said Weisselberg is 'no stranger' to many of the documents because they include Trump Organisation business records that the executive is likely to have produced or reviewed as part of his job

Prosecutors said Weisselberg is 'no stranger' to many of the documents because they include Trump Organisation business records that the executive is likely to have produced or reviewed as part of his job

Donald Trump's company and its longtime finance chief were charged Thursday in what a prosecutor called a "sweeping and audacious" tax fraud scheme

Donald Trump's company and its longtime finance chief were charged Thursday in what a prosecutor called a "sweeping and audacious" tax fraud scheme

Vance's office has been working relentlessly for over two years to seize the Trump Organization's tax records, with Trump blocking Vance's attempts several times. FILE PHOTO- Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. arrives at his office on July 1, 2021

Vance's office has been working relentlessly for over two years to seize the Trump Organization's tax records, with Trump blocking Vance's attempts several times. FILE PHOTO- Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. arrives at his office on July 1, 2021


'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!' said Trump in a July statement. 

Vance's office has been working relentlessly for over two years to seize the Trump Organization's tax records, with Trump blocking his attempts several times. 

In August, New York State Attorney General Letitia James joined the inquiry, which was opened by Vance in 2018 after Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified before the senate that the former president had participated in a hush-money scheme to silent women who had affair allegations against him. 

Cohen has since cooperated to assist Vance's office with their probe.

'This case is not about politics, this investigation, which is ongoing, is proper.

'Contrary to the defense assertions, there's no clearer example of a company that should be held to criminal account,' said Carey Dunne, the prosecutor for the DA office. 

Both the Trump Organization and Weisselberg have pleaded not guilty to the charges.  


Trump, who has not been charged in the case, said that the charges against his organization and former Chief Financial Officer are politically motivated. FILE PHOTO- Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg looks on as then-U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan in 2016

Trump, who has not been charged in the case, said that the charges against his organization and former Chief Financial Officer are politically motivated. FILE PHOTO- Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg looks on as then-U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan in 2016

Both the Trump Organization and Weissellberg have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Both the Trump Organization and Weissellberg have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Weisselberg enjoyed commodities such as free rent, utilities and garage expenses for his Upper West Side apartment, which were paid for by the Trump Organization during the 15 years that the alleged scheme took place

Weisselberg enjoyed commodities such as free rent, utilities and garage expenses for his Upper West Side apartment, which were paid for by the Trump Organization during the 15 years that the alleged scheme took place 

Weisselberg most serious charged offense, grand larceny, carries five to 15 years in prison

Weisselberg most serious charged offense, grand larceny, carries five to 15 years in prison

In the benefits that Weisselberg enjoyed during the fifteen years that the alleged scheme took place, are commodities such as free rent, utilities and garage expenses for his Upper West Side apartment, which were paid for by the Trump Organization.

The organization also paid for his and his wife's Mercedes Benz cars and private school tuition for their grandchildren. 

According to court papers, Weisselberg also avoided paying more than $900,000 in taxes and received more than $136,000 in falsely claimed refunds with Trump reportedly signing many of the illegal compensation checks. 

His son, Barry Weisselberg, who also works for the Trump Organization, lived rent-free in a Central Park apartment owned by the organization, according to his estranged wife.  

The organization, however, has maintained that nothing illegal was done and employees were merely receiving benefits as it occurs in plenty of other companies. 

'Legal experts across the country all agree: never before has this District Attorney's office, or even the IRS, criminally charged a company over employee benefits.'

'Indeed, the District Attorney's office did not even prosecute a single Wall Street bank for causing the 2008 financial crash, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, even though their actions hurt millions around the globe and nearly brought the U.S. economy to the brink of collapse,' a spokesperson for the Trump Organization said. 

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