PAUL MANAFORT, RICK GATES PLEAD GUILTY, GET $15 MILLION BAIL

WASHINGTON, United States – A former Manager of the Donald Trump Campaign Organisation, Paul Manafort and his business associate, Rick Gates have pleaded guilty to charges of felony, conspiracy against the United States and other offences.

They were however released on bail subject to fulfilling the bail conditions. Bail bond of $10 million was imposed on Manafort while his associate, Gates was released on bail subject to payment of $5 million.

Outside the courthouse, Manafort attorney Kevin Downing attacked the charges, saying “there is no evidence that Mr. Manafort or the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government.”

According to the charges, Manafort and Gates acted as unregistered foreign agents for Ukrainian interests, including other financial counts involving tens of millions of dollars routed through offshore accounts.
The indictment filed in federal court in Washington accuses both Manafort and Gates of channeling payments through foreign companies and bank accounts as part of their political work in Ukraine. The two men surrendered to federal authorities Monday.

Among the 12 counts are conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, acting as an unregistered foreign agent, making false statements and several charges related to failing to report foreign bank and financial accounts.

Manafort was accused of using “his hidden overseas wealth to enjoy a lavish lifestyle in the United States, without paying taxes on that income.” That included using offshore accounts to purchase multimillion-dollar properties in the U.S., some of which the government is seeking to seize.

He is alleged to have made more than $900,000 in payments to an antique rug store, about $850,000 to a New York men’s clothing store and the purchase of a Mercedes Benz and multiple Range Rovers.

The indictment alleges the men moved money through hidden bank accounts in Cyprus, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Seychelles. In total, more than $75 million flowed through the offshore accounts, with Manafort accused of laundering more than $18 million.