New York –

Former Trump Organization chief financial officer Ellen Weisselberg was sentenced Wednesday to five months in prison after pleading guilty to perjury last month for lying to investigators and a judge about Donald Trump’s finances.

Judge Laurie Peterson issued the sentence during a hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court. The sentence is consistent with the punishment the judge indicated during Weisselberg’s March 4 plea hearing.

After a brief hearing, court staff led Weisselberg out of the courtroom in handcuffs.

It marks the second time the former US president’s long-time loyal deputy has been jailed.

Weisselberg, 76, spent about three months in New York’s Rikers Island jail in 2023 after pleading guilty to participating in the Trump Organization’s 15-year tax fraud scheme.

The perjury charges stem from Weisselberg’s testimony in a civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James against Trump, Weisselberg and other executives of the Trump family real estate company , accusing them of manipulating property values ​​to defraud lenders and insurance companies.

Weisselberg testified at the Oct. 10 trial that he had no role in the incorrect valuation of Trump’s Manhattan townhouse. Trump’s 2015 and 2016 financial statements valued the unit at $327 million, with its declared square footage of more than 30,000 square feet, nearly three times the actual square footage.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, which prosecuted Weisselberg, said the former CFO’s emails showed he was actually keeping tabs on the apartment.

Weisselberg also admitted that he lied about his role in Trump’s financial statements during two previous depositions to James’ office. James’ investigation ultimately resulted in a $454 million fine against Trump for fraudulently appraising properties. Trump is appealing Judge Arthur Engoron’s order.

Engoron also ordered Weisselberg to pay $1.1 million, including interest.

Weisselberg worked for the former president’s family for half a century. His written plea agreement did not indicate whether he would cooperate with Bragg’s office.

Trump is scheduled to go on trial starting Monday on charges that his former lawyer Michael Cohen concealed $130,000 in hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels following her scandal. She remained silent before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she said she had with Trump in 2006.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and has denied having any such contact with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

The case, also brought by Bragg, is expected to be the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president. Trump faces three other indictments stemming from his efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat and his handling of sensitive government documents. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.