IRS Criminal Investigation Division
| Criminal Investigation | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | IRS-CI |
Badge of the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division
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| Agency overview | |
| Formed | July 1, 1919 |
| Employees | 3,500 (approx.) |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Federal agency | United States |
| General nature |
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| Specialist jurisdiction | Taxation. |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | 1111 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC |
| Special agents | 2,500 (approx) |
| Agency executive | Richard Weber, Chief |
| Parent agency | Internal Revenue Service |
| Website | |
| http://www.irs.gov/uac/Criminal-Enforcement-1 | |
Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigates potential criminal violations of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and related financial crimes in a manner intended to foster confidence in the tax system and deter violations of tax law. While other federal agencies also have investigative jurisdiction for money laundering and some bank secrecy act violations, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the only federal agency that can investigate potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code.
Chief Richard Weber oversees a worldwide staff of approximately 3,500 CI employees, including approximately 2,500 special agents who investigate and assist in the prosecution of criminal tax, money laundering, and Bank Secrecy Act related crime cases.
According to statistical data on the IRS web site, Criminal Investigation initiated 4,297 investigations in fiscal year 2014. In addition, the IRS-CI conviction rate (which is the percentage of convictions compared to the total number of convictions, acquittals, and dismissals) was 93.4% in fiscal year 2014.
On July 1, 1919, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue Daniel C. Roper created the Intelligence Unit to investigate widespread allegations of tax fraud. To establish the Intelligence Unit, six United States Post Office Inspectors were transferred to the Bureau of Internal Revenue to become the first special agents in charge of the organization that would one day become Criminal Investigation. Among the first six Elmer L. Irey was designated the Chief, and William H. Woolf the Assistant Chief. They formed the nucleus that became the Intelligence Unit.
The Intelligence Unit quickly became renowned for the financial investigative skill of its special agents. It attained national prominence in the 1930s for the conviction of public enemy number one, Al Capone, for income tax evasion, and its role in solving the Lindbergh kidnapping. From these promising beginnings the Intelligence Unit expanded over the intervening decades, investigating tax evasion by ordinary citizens, prominent businesspersons, government officials, and notorious criminals.
In July 1978, the Intelligence Unit changed its name to Criminal Investigation (CI). Over the years CI’s statutory jurisdiction expanded to include money laundering and currency violations in addition to its traditional role in investigating tax violations. However, Criminal Investigation’s core mission remains unchanged. It continues to fulfill the important role of helping to ensure the integrity and fairness of the United States tax system.
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Wikipedia