Criminal Tax Evasion / Fraud
If you are like most of our firm’s criminal tax evasion and tax fraud clients, you had a horrible shock when the IRS came knocking on your door or you started to receive letters from the Department of Justice (DOJ). You probably have one big question on your mind: “Why me?”
Good Citizens and Criminal Tax Evasion/Fraud
Most of attorney Rain Minns’ tax clients have not had much interaction with the legal system at all. They are often business and community leaders, wonderful parents/grandparents, volunteers, and/or actively involved in their church or temple. They typically find the IRS’s accusations to be embarrassing and frustrating—they are not criminals and resent being treated like criminals! In fact, the only even vaguely criminal experience they have ever had is usually a speeding ticket. In short, they are good, law abiding citizens.
Unfortunately, the tax laws are not fair, right or just. In addition, the IRS is a bureaucratic machine that has many revenue officers, revenue agents, and special agents that are bullies looking to advance their careers. This means that you might be facing a possible felony conviction (tax evasion or tax fraud) and prison sentence.
To make matters worse, many good citizens have followed tax advice about legal tax avoidance that they are now questioning or believe was incorrect. It is very disturbing to receive a frivolous tax return letter or an IRS summons during a potentially criminal IRS investigation. But, hindsight is 20-20. This often happens to doctors and other professionals. Or, perhaps they were laid off or own a small business that was on the verge of bankruptcy, got behind on their taxes, and simply became too overwhelmed.
Fighting Tax Evasion/Fraud Witch Hunts
But, by acting quickly and precisely, the Rain Minns Law Firm is usually successful at keeping these matters as civil disputes over the amount of money owed rather than criminal witch hunts. But, sometimes the witch hunt has already started. According to the IRS, since its Criminal Investigation division began in 1919, its conviction rate has never fallen below 90%—the highest in Federal law enforcement.(1) However, Rain has beat those odds. In fact, she has had a client found “not guilty” on 64 criminal tax evasion, tax fraud, and related counts at once.
If you have been accused of criminal tax evasion or tax fraud, then the Constitution says that you are innocent unless and until found guilty in a court of law. You have the right to a lawyer and to be treated like the human being that you are.
(1) http://www.irs.gov/uac/The-History-of-IRS-Criminal-Investigation-%28CI%29