White Collar Defense: Government Investigations
We understand what a person suspected of a crime has to face – fear of prison, fear of losing savings and assets, fear of damaged relationships… The stakes are high when you are under investigation, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Moskowitz LLP’s white-collar criminal defense attorneys provide experienced legal representation in criminal investigations of tax fraud, tax evasion, structuring, Bank Secrecy Act violations, and other financial crimes. We work to avert criminal proceedings and to eliminate or reduce penalties, creating alternative resolutions to indictment whenever possible.
IRS criminal investigations
During an audit, if an IRS agent finds “affirmative acts” or “firm indications” of fraud (such as unreported income, undisclosed assets, money laundering, or structuring) the auditor may refer the case to the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Division.
Whereas a civil audit usually involves a detailed review of a taxpayer’s financial documents, a criminal investigation entails much more, including interviews, surveillance, search warrants, and arrests. Prosecutions typically result in asset seizure and forfeiture, court trials, financial penalties, and/or prison time.
Other criminal investigations
In addition to IRS-CI defense, we handle investigations by other federal and state regulatory agencies, including, but not limited to:
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Department of Labor (DOL)
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- California Franchise Tax Board (FTB)
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), formerly the Board of Equalization
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
- California Criminal Investigation Division and other state law enforcement agencies
- Federal and state banking regulators
We have more than 30 years’ experience representing defendants in criminal and civil tax/financial matters and have helped many of our clients avoid prosecution. If you have a criminal case you will also have a civil case – it is important to coordinate them in order to achieve the optimum result in both and to avoid one case adversely affecting the other.
If you have been contacted by an IRS agent or other government official, contact our office immediately.