IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) will celebrate its 100th anniversary from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 10, at the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in Detroit. The event will feature presentations by mob historians and authors, current and former federal prosecutors, and IRS-CI agents.
The agency was created on July 1, 1919, when Daniel C. Roper, commissioner of Internal Revenue, created the Intelligence Unit and designated Elmer L. Irey as the first chief. His mission was to investigate widespread allegations of tax fraud. While much has changed since 1919, the mission of criminal tax enforcement remains the same: To fulfill the role of helping to ensure the integrity and fairness of the U.S. tax system.
Over the last century, the IU (known today as CI) has become renowned for its premier financial investigative skills. The unique skillset of the special agents has led CI to attain national prominence for successful cases such as the income tax evasion conviction of Alphonse Capone as well as its role in solving the Lindbergh kidnapping. Here in Detroit, CI's role has ranged from investigating the Purple Gang and La Cosa Nostra to more recent prosecutions such as the former City of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Dr. Farid Fata, amongst others.
Welcoming remarks at the centennial commemoration will be made by U.S. District Court Judge Chief Judge Denise Hood, Eastern District of Michigan. Among the speakers will be mob historians and authors James Buccellato and Scott Burnstein; retired Special Agents Frank Scartozzi and Steve Moor; retired Organized Crimes AUSA Keith Corbett and current AUSA Eric Straus; United States Attorneys Matthew Schneider and Andrew Birge, among others. The event will be emceed by WDIV-TV investigative reporter Kevin Dietz and Donald Davis, former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan.
Published: Thu, May 09, 2019
