A Trump Organization exec pleads guilty to tax fraud

Plus, Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart's $650 million opioid settlement. A long-time Trump executive accepts a plea deal in a tax fraud case; CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart must pay $650 million for fueling the opioid epidemic. Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin.   TOP NEWS A Trump exec faces jail time over tax-free perks Stephanie Keith/Getty Images - Thursday, top Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg pleaded guilty to 15 charges related to a tax fraud scheme. [[Associated Press / Michael R. Sisak](] - Weisselberg’s plea could make him a key witness in an upcoming tax evasion trial against the Trump Organization: As part of his plea deal, Weisselberg agreed to testify truthfully at the trial. [[Yahoo / Alexis Keenan](] - The former CFO will be sentenced to five months in prison and must pay $2 million in back taxes and fines. He could serve just 100 days if his behavior is good. [[CNN / Kara Scannell](] - Weisselberg was found guilty of evading taxes on $1.76 million in off-the-books perks, including rent for a Manhattan apartment and school tuition for his grandchildren over 15 years. [[Wall Street Journal / Corinne Ramey](] - Though Weisselberg may testify against the Trump Organization, he refused a better deal that would have involved cooperating with a broader investigation into Donald Trump’s business practices. [[New York Times / Jonah E. Bromwich, Ben Protess, and William K. Rashbaum](] [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( A $650.6 million settlement to fix the opioid crisis - Wednesday, a federal judge ordered Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS to pay $650.6 million over 15 years to two Ohio counties for enabling the opioid crisis. [[CNN / Laura Ly](] - The ruling follows a jury verdict that found the companies' pharmacies ignored warning signs of drug abuse as millions of pain pills flowed into Trumbull and Lake counties. [[WSJ / Talal Ansari](] - The court found the pharmacies responsible for repairing one-third of the epidemic’s damages; the rest falls on drug makers and distributors. [[NYT / Jan Hoffman](] - Also on Wednesday, opioid manufacturer Endo International agreed to pay several states up to $450 million over 10 years for running ads downplaying the risks of opioid addiction. [[AP / Mark Gillispie](]   MISCELLANEOUS A federal judge gave the Justice Department a week to redact the affidavit that led to the FBI search of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, for possible release. [[NPR](] - The US and Taiwan will hold official talks on boosting bilateral trade and investment amid escalating tensions with China. [[Guardian / Helen Davidson](] - Thursday, the NFL suspended Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for 11 games and fined him $5 million for sexual misconduct with dozens of women. [[CNN / David Close and Ray Sanchez](] - On Tuesday, Tanzanian officials launched high-speed internet on Mount Kilimanjaro — almost 13,000 feet above sea level — with plans to reach the peak this year. [[Washington Post / Adela Suliman](]   VERBATIM “These companies are rending the fabric of society apart. They should not only show remorse, they should show they need to rectify what they’ve done.” [[Mark Lanier, lawyer for the Ohio counties / NYT](]   LISTEN TO THIS Merrick Garland’s dilemma The Justice Department is investigating Donald Trump, but the ex-president's still-large base likely won’t want him prosecuted under any circumstances. Vox’s Zack Beauchamp explains the ongoing fallout from the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago. [Listen now ▶](   Read more from Vox [Are teachers leaving the classroom en masse?]( [Silicon Valley is wrong about the future of transportation]( [Setting boundaries is more than just saying “no”]( [The northern lights could be a lot farther south tonight]( [She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: Power means letting female heroes take up space]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences]( or [unsubscribe](param=sentences). If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Notice]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved.