What do I do if a Special Agent contacts me?

If a Special Agent contact you this is not a warning sign; it is a giant roadside billboard with flashing lights. You will be told that you are not required to speak with the Agent, and that you may have a lawyer present, but the Agent will then try to get you to talk -- for hours. Special Agents love these ambush interviews. They know only too well that once you hire an attorney they will probably not again have the chance to talk with you, so their best and perhaps only chance of getting statements useful to them in prosecuting you is to get you to talk before you are represented by counsel. DON'T DO IT!! Do not talk to the Agent or give him any information or documents. Instead, respectfully tell him that you would like to consult with counsel, and nothing more. If you are already under investigation by CID and you have been talking and "cooperating" with any Special Agent, STOP IMMEDIATELY and retain competent counsel. If you try to handle this on your own, you will have plenty of time in prison to contemplate the old adage "a man who represents himself has a fool for a client."

If any of these things happen to you, drop whatever you are doing and find competent representation immediately -- you're going to need it. Please understand that there are relatively few criminal tax investigations each year, so not many attorneys are experienced in handling them. In fact, it is almost impossible to handle these cases correctly unless you have been a U.S. Attorney, a Department of Justice trial attorney, or former prosecutor. You owe it to yourself to find someone with these qualifications.

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