Trump’s business crimes
Executive summary
Donald Trump has been found liable and convicted in multiple matters tied to his businesses: a landmark New York criminal conviction for falsifying business records related to 2016 hush‑money payments, a separate New York civil fraud judgment ordering large financial penalties for years of allegedly deceptive business practices, and earlier convictions and fines against the Trump Organization for tax‑and‑perks schemes (all of which are being appealed or litigated) [1] [2] [3].
1. The criminal conviction that changed precedent
In May 2024 a Manhattan jury convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree for conduct prosecutors said involved concealing payments tied to the 2016 campaign, making him the first former president convicted of a felony; prosecutors presented invoices, checks, bank records and testimony from dozens of witnesses during the six‑week trial [1] [4] [5].
2. Sentencing, presidential status and the unusual discharge
The conviction did not lead to traditional punishment: a judge granted an unconditional discharge that placed a judgment of guilt on Trump’s record without jail time or fines, a result the court tied in part to constitutional protections and the fact that Trump was again serving as president, while appeals and motions to move the case to federal court remain active [6] [5] [7].
3. Civil fraud against the empire: the $364 million judgment
Separate from criminal law, New York’s attorney general won a civil fraud trial that found pervasive overvaluation of Trump’s assets and deceptive financial statements, resulting in a roughly $364 million penalty and orders limiting Trump’s control of aspects of his business — a verdict his lawyers have appealed [2] [3].
4. Criminal liability for the Trump Organization and tax‑related penalties
The Trump Organization and some executives were convicted in 2022 on charges tied to tax avoidance schemes involving executive perks such as apartments and cars, producing fines and judgments against the corporate entity that sit alongside the founder’s personal legal exposure [3] [2].
5. Pardons, clemency and the politics of white‑collar forgiveness
As president, Trump issued numerous pardons that disproportionately benefited white‑collar offenders and business figures convicted of money‑laundering, bank fraud and related offenses, a pattern reported by major outlets and criticized by state officials who track his clemency decisions as politically motivated favors to allies [8] [9].
6. The wider indictment landscape and unresolved counts
Beyond New York, Trump has faced multiple indictments — federal and state — including cases about classified documents and alleged election interference; some prosecutions were paused, dismissed or appealed after his 2024 election because Department of Justice policy generally avoids prosecuting a sitting president, and several matters remain in litigation or appeal with legal arguments about presidential immunity and venue still contested [10] [7] [4].
7. How to read the record: facts, appeals and partisan lenses
The public record shows convictions, civil penalties, and corporate guilty verdicts, but nearly every determination is the subject of ongoing appeals, constitutional arguments and intense political framing: prosecutors emphasize evidence of fraud and concealment, defense teams argue prosecutorial overreach and immunity, and partisan actors — from state attorneys general to governors’ offices — have both amplified and weaponized those outcomes for political ends [1] [2] [9].
8. Bottom line for accountability and uncertainty ahead
Legally, Trump’s business record includes criminal convictions, corporate convictions, and major civil liability — all significant in scale and precedent — but many orders are stayed or appealed, sentencing outcomes have been atypical, and systemic questions about presidential immunity, prosecutorial discretion and the pace of appellate review mean the final legal and financial consequences are still being decided [1] [6] [4].