Tax fraud

Hanno Berger, a German lawyer dubbed the "mastermind" of Cum-Ex, was sentenced for his role in part of a sprawling tax scandal that's robbed billions of euros from government coffers.

Last week's convictions of two Donald Trump companies for criminal tax fraud may help ensure Trump's business remains under court-ordered supervision, former Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said.

The heads of tax authorities in five countries are busting companies using electronic sales suppression software to evade sales and value-added taxes.

CFO Weisselberg used the free cash to live large, saving the Trump Organization from paying taxes on it as well.

Some kind of broke; summa cum crook; ticket punched; and other highlights of recent tax cases.

Hanno Berger, a key figure in the sprawling Cum-Ex tax scandal, should get nine years in prison, prosecutors said in closing arguments at a German criminal trial.

It is the first time a Trump business has been convicted of criminal conduct and comes as the former president is running for a second term.

The celebrity lawyer was ordered to pay nearly $11 million in restitution to four clients as well as the IRS.

Prosecutors worked to show that Trump executives, including former CFO Allen Weisselberg, evaded taxes on perks such as free apartments and luxury cars.

In his closing statement at the end of the month-long trial, Assistant DA Joshua Steinglass blasted claims by lawyers for the two Trump companies that former CFO Allen Weisselberg had acted alone.