Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney to Donald Trump, pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court today to eight counts of tax evasion, making false statements to a federally-insured bank, and campaign finance violations.
Cohen, who was an attorney and employee of a Manhattan-based real estate company from 2007 through January 2017, concealed more than $4 million in personal income from the IRS, and made false statements to a federally-insured financial institution in connection with a $500,000 home equity loan.
According to the allegations, Cohen caused $280,000 in payments to be made to silence two women who otherwise planned to speak publicly about their alleged affairs with a presidential candidate, thereby intending to influence the 2016 presidential election.
“Michael Cohen is a lawyer who, rather than setting an example of respect for the law, instead chose to break the law, repeatedly over many years and in a variety of ways,” said Attorney for the United States Robert Khuzami.
“This investigation uncovered crimes of fraud, deception and evasion, conducted through a string of financial transactions that were carefully constructed and concealed to protect a variety of interests,” said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr.
“Today’s guilty plea exemplifies IRS Special Agents’ rigorous pursuit of tax evasion and sends the clear message that the tax laws apply to everybody,” said IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge James D. Robnett.
Cohen held the title of “Executive Vice President” and “Special Counsel” to the owner of the Company (“Individual-1”), and in January 2017, Cohen left the Company and began holding himself out as the “personal attorney” to Individual-1, who by that time had become the President of the United States.
The Tax Evasion Scheme, as it was called, involved Cohen concealing more than $4 million in personal income from the IRS, and making false statements to a federally-insured financial institution in connection with a $500,000 home equity loan.
Cohen’s greed to hide his income from the IRS cheats all the honest taxpayers, and we should not expect law abiding citizens to foot the bill for those who circumvent the system to evade paying their fair share.
Related Federal Cases
- Schulman Brothers Stole $4.7M in Tax Evasion · New York
- Benefit & Tax Cheat Gets 37 Months · New York
- Monterey Finance Fleeces NYers: $2.4M Settlement · New York
- Takisha Rainey Stole $25K with Forged Tax Check · New York
- Attorney General James Slams Alba Services with $1.4M Over Construction Worker Rights Violations · New York
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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