According to CFO magazine’s March cover story, most financial fraud today is uncovered by whistle-blowers or by accident. In this section of the Carolina Crime Report, I will post whistle-blower news and award information. In many states, the IRS, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s offices work together as a team. In NC, that’s not always the case, so you may need to reach out to all three parties, and gain clarification on who is the best lead. For example, the FBI has expertise in Ponzi schemes and mortgage fraud; while other financial crimes are better suited for an IRS investigation.
You can report financial crime to the local IRS Office in Raleigh by calling: 919-856-4283 or you can report in person during normal business hours.
The IRS and the FBI both have jurisdiction over federal statutes Title 18 and Title 26. If you are reporting a financial crime, first review Titles 18 and 26 to determine which specific violations you are reporting. For example, with the Red Light Robber crime (www.redlightrobber.com) you can see that there is unlawful financial activity and concealment of one’s identity in order to commit unlawful financial activity. In addition, the unlawful income exceeds $10 million dollars and most of the unlawful proceeds are kicked back to a private company. This is an example of what information the IRS would need to know. If the crime is sophisticated, as this one is, you also have to explain to them, for example, how a faulty physics equation is intentional (i.e short yellow lights cause drivers to run them because you can’t defy the laws of physics).
You can schedule an appointment to meet with a special agent in the IRS, or else you can visit the office in person during normal business hours and ask to meet with the duty agent. You must bring picture ID to enter the building. The IRS Federal office is located at:
310 New Bern Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27601
The Department of Justice in Charlotte, North Carolina has just implemented a new whistle-blower award program. You can send inquiries and tips to:
Kurt.Meyers@usdoj.gov or mark.odulio@usdoj.gov
You can also contact the U.S. attorneys in your county:
| Eastern District | ||
| George E. B. Holding, USA* 310 New Bern Avenue, Suite 800 Terry Sanford Federal Building & US Courthouse Raleigh, NC 27601-1461 Web Site | Press Releases |
(919)856-4530 | (919)856-4487 |
| Middle District | ||
| Ripley Rand, USA* P.O. Box 1858 Greensboro, NC 27402 Web Site | Press Releases |
(336)333-5351 | (336)333-5438 |
| 251 North Main Street, Suite 726 Winston-Salem, NC 27101 |
(336)631-5268 | (336)631-5049 |
| Western District | ||
| Anne Tompkins, USA* 227 West Trade Street, Suite 1650 Charlotte, NC 28202 Web Site | Press Releases |
(704)344-6222 | (704)344-6629 |
| Room 233, U.S. Courthouse 100 Otis Street Asheville, NC 28801 |
(828)271-4661 | (828)271-4670 |
