Business Better Podcast Episode: Tax Audits, Investigations, and Global Enforcement - A Conversation with IRS Special Agent Jonathan Schnatz
The Presumption of Innocence Podcast: Episode 28 - Under the Microscope: Examining the Future of the ERC
The Presumption of Innocence Podcast: Episode 4 - Understanding the Employee Retention Credit
The Presumption of Innocence Podcast: Episode 2 - Avoid Falling Prey: The Dirty Dozen and Other Trending Tax Scams
Argentina: A Look at the Case of Lázaro Báez - Laundering the Proceeds of Corruption and Tax Fraud
Podcast: Cum-Ex Dividend Trade Investigations
Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) brought USA v. Ahlgren, its first crypto case with tax evasion allegations unrelated to another crime, demonstrating the DOJ’s willingness to pursue stand-alone crypto...more
In this episode, we are joined by Special Agent Jonathan Schnatz, Senior Analyst with IRS Criminal Investigation. Special Agent Schnatz will discuss his work with an international law enforcement and tax compliance group, and...more
The first criminal prosecution of syndicated conservation easement promoters began on July 18, 2023, with the government laying out its case against defendants Jack Fisher, James Sinnott, and Clayton Weibel. A Department of...more
Polsinelli’s Government Investigations and Tax attorneys continue to follow the well-known Fisher case, the Department of Justice’s ("DOJ") first criminal indictment related to syndicated conservation easements. Walter...more
Two Men Sentenced for $1.6 Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme - On Monday, April 10, two brothers were sentenced for their participation in a COVID-19 fraud scheme. The scheme involved fraudulent applications for $1.6 million...more
Taxpayers routinely ask me if they can go to jail for not paying their federal income taxes. Admittedly, the bar is not that high for felony tax evasion—the government must only prove three elements: (i) willfulness; (ii)...more
Key Takeaways - ..Taxpayers could be criminally and civilly liable under state False Claims Act statutes for underreporting income linked to virtual currency. ..While the federal False Claims Act explicitly excludes tax...more
This is the third post in this year’s series examining important trends in white collar law and investigations. Our previous post discussed trends in anti-corruption. Up next: State AG enforcement trends. Tax season is...more
Many (if not most) people and organizations approach a new year by setting new goals or implementing changes. This exercise, however, requires a reflection on the previous year’s events, successes, and failures. And...more
In the past month, state and federal prosecutors have separately charged the former CEO of Skyline Healthcare, Joseph Schwartz, with Medicaid and tax fraud. The criminal actions, which represent the latest legal action...more
Defendants Cannot Move for Compassionate Release Based Solely on Post-Sentencing Cooperation- United States v. Claude (October 27, 2021), No. 20-3563- BACKGROUND- Defendant sought compassionate release to reduce his...more
“The investigative work of 2021 has all the makings of a made for TV movie – embezzlement of funds from a nonprofit, a family fraud ring that stole millions in COVID-relief funds and a $1 billion Ponzi scheme used to buy...more
LATE RAPPER DMX OWED IRS NEARLY $700,000 IN TAXES - The influential rapper sold more than 74 million records worldwide. Rapper DMX owed the Internal Revenue Service $700,000 in unpaid taxes at the time of his death. ...more
BIDEN TO INCREASE TAX AUDITS; MAY TARGET SMALL BUSINESSES - The president’s plan to scrutinize the tax returns of the wealthy may also target small businesses. President Joe Biden announced a plan to increase the...more
Precedential Opinions of Note - Government Must Prove Falsity Under Any Objectively Reasonable Standard - United States v. Harra (January 12, 2021), No. 19-1105 http://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/191105p.pdf Unanimous...more
It is tax season once again. While the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has extended this year’s filing deadline to May 17, 2021 for individuals, businesses must still file by April 15, and all U.S. taxpayers must ensure that...more
Male Escort Gets 21 Months In Prison For Tax Case - He lied on his tax returns, resulting in a tax loss to the IRS of $278,325. A male escort who lied to the IRS about his income was sentenced to 21 months in prison and...more
Man Faces Three Years In Prison For Tax-Evasion Scheme - He made donations to Chabad of Poway that were then funneled back to him in cash. A California man pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return as part of a...more
The chief financial officer of a company in Washington state was sentenced to one year and one day in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of income tax evasion. ...more
Former N.Y. Elected Official Sentenced To Six Months - The court also ordered the New Yorker to pay $254,628 in restitution to the IRS. A former Town of Hempstead, New York, councilman was sentenced to six months in...more
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) 39 count indictment charging Robert T. Brockman, with tax evasion, wire fraud, money laundering, and other offenses, demonstrates that the DOJ is committed to the investigation and...more
Joseph Frank Abel recently pled guilty to conspiring to offer and sell unregistered securities and to filing a false tax return in connection with his role in the BitClub Network, a cryptocurrency mining scheme worth at least...more
The list of state and local tax crimes seems endless: from fraud to operating a retail location without a sales tax permit. Shawn Cleveland and Robb Adkins from the BakerHostetler white collar litigation team join Matt...more
The Italian legal framework provides for the administrative (quasi-criminal) liability of companies for certain criminal offenses committed by their directors, executives, and employees in the interest, or for the benefit, of...more
A Ukrainian man living in the U.S. is facing up to 20 years in prison after being convicted of 18 federal felonies to defraud his former employer Microsoft out of more than $10 million in digital value. ...more