A Weekly Roundup of Top Stories from IRS Criminal Investigation

In case you missed it, we’re bringing you a recap of the most important stories from the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) division for the week of October 9th to 15th, 2023.

Buffalo Man Indicted for COVID-19 Funds Fraud

In our first story, a federal grand jury has indicted a man from Buffalo for fraudulently receiving COVID-19 funds. The funds were allegedly misused for personal expenditures at hotels and restaurants, and for cash withdrawals, among other non-Covid related expenses.

J5 Cyber Experts Discuss Smart Contracts and NFTs

Next up, we have a conversation between J5 cyber experts and Citibank investigators. The discussion revolved around the challenge of combating crime that arises from emerging financial technology, like smart contracts and NFTs.

IRS CI Celebrates Hispanic Heritage and Diversity

In our efforts to honor the contributions of our employees of Hispanic heritage, we are prioritizing diversity in our recruiting efforts. We’re spreading the word to communities throughout America: We’re hiring!

Following the Money Trail

While we are known for combating tax crimes, our work doesn’t stop there. Following the money trail uncovers a wide range of illicit activity that is critical to our partner investigations.

Former Chairman of 1 Global Pleads Guilty

In a major case, the former chairman of 1 Global has pleaded guilty to running a $250 million securities fraud scheme. Our Miami Field Office is investigating this case in collaboration with partner law enforcement agencies.

About IRS Criminal Investigation

CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS. Our responsibility is to conduct financial crime investigations, which include tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft, and more. CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code. We maintain a high federal conviction rate of over 90 percent. The agency operates out of 20 field offices located across the U.S. and 12 attaché posts abroad.

For more information about our work, visit IRS.gov/CI. If you suspect tax fraud, you can report it through our Report Suspected Tax Fraud page. Stay informed about the latest tax schemes and fraud alerts through our Tax Schemes and Fraud page.