Lead Opinion
Petitioners have moved to suppress evidence allegedly obtained by respondent through trickery, deceit, and misrepresentation. Petitioners contend that respondent’s agents improperly obtained information to be used in a criminal prosecution under the guise of a civil examination. Essentially, petitioners contend: (1) That respondent’s criminal investigators, during a preliminary inquiry, developed sufficient information from which a full-scale investigation could have been commenced; (2) that instead, the matter was referred to a revenue agent ostensibly for civil examination but with the actual intent of obtaining more information from petitioners, for the purpose of criminal prosecution; (3) that respondent’s criminal and civil agents collaborated in obtaining criminal prosecution information through the civil examination process; and (4) finally, that petitioners cooperated and were unaware of the true intent of respondent’s agents and turned over records and information which would not have been provided if they had known it was a criminal investigation. Petitioners assert that such conduct constitutes an illegal search and seizure violating their constitutional rights, and they ask us to sanction respondent by excluding all illegally obtained evidence and/or shifting the burden of going forward with the evidence to him on all matters. Based upon the notices of deficiency and without considering petitioners’ request for sanctions on respondent, respondent would bear the burden of proof only with respect to the addition to tax for fraud under sec. 6653(b).
This matter was the subject of a lengthy trial, substantial briefs, and a large volume of requested findings of fact. We decide, as a matter of law, that even if all of petitioners’ requested findings were adopted and a Fourth or Fifth
Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioners’ Federal income tax and additions to tax as follows:
James Kenneth and Grace A. Jones
Docket No. 4609-87
Year
1980
1981
1982
1983
Deficiency
$105,799.19
84,496.83
126,088.90
67,755.17
Additions to tax
Sec. 6653(b)(1)3 $52,899.60 42,248.42 63,044.45 33,877.59
Sec. 6653(b)(2)
applies
applies
Sec. 6661
$31,522.23
16,938.79
James K. Jones
Year Deficiency
1984 $48,514.72
1985 89,420.07
Docket No. 4610-87 Additions to tax
Sec. 6653(b)(1) Sec. 6653(b)(2) Sec. 6654 Sec. 6661 $24,257.36 applies $2,739.59 $12,128.68
44,710.33 applies 4,170.63 22,355.02
Ken’s Audio Specialties & Sewing Center; Inc. Docket No. 31664-87
_Additions to tax_
Year ended Deficiency Sec. 6653(b)(1) Sec. 6653(b)(2) Sec. 6661 4/30/83 $109,233 $54,617 applies $27,308
4/30/84 66,580 33,290 applies 16,645
Background
Petitioners James Kenneth Jones and Grace A. Jones were husband and wife during the years at issue, but were divorced at the time of the hearing on petitioners’ motion to suppress. At the time their petitions were filed, the legal residence of Mr. and Mrs. Jones was Macon, Georgia. Unless otherwise noted, “petitioners” in the plural refers to James Kenneth and Grace A. Jones and “Jones” in the singular refers to James Kenneth Jones. For the taxable years 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983, petitioners filed joint Federal individual income tax returns using the cash method of accounting. Jones did not file Federal income tax returns for 1984 and 1985.
Ken’s Audio filed small business corporation income tax returns, Forms 1120-S, reporting income and deductions by means of the accrual method of accounting for its taxable years ended April 30, 1981, and April 30, 1982. For its taxable years ended April 30, 1983, and April 30, 1984, Ken’s Audio filed Federal corporate income tax returns, Forms 1120, reporting under the accrual method of accounting.
For the taxable years 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1982, petitioners operated a partnership known as ABC Day Care Center which provided day care services for children in petitioners’ residence.
The Criminal Investigation Information Item
On or about August 16, 1983, Special Agent Gary W. Schwab (Schwab or Special Agent Schwab), Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Macon, Georgia, discovered a newspaper article concerning petitioners’ new home, Woodcrest Manor. The story and pictures portrayed a large and lavish home consisting of 6,000 square feet of living space and a 1,000-square-foot bedroom on three levels with a jacuzzi on the center level. Schwab also learned that Mrs. Jones had told an interior decorator, who was also Schwab’s neighbor, that petitioners
Corporate, partnership, and individual income tax returns for the 5-year period 1979 through 1983 were sought in order to consider whether the expenditures for the home were in line with the income reported. All returns were internally available, except that the corporate Federal income tax returns of Ken’s Audio could not be located due to an error in the corporate taxpayer identification number. Schwab sent Jones a form letter requesting information about the returns for Ken’s Audio, and Jones responded with a copy of a corporate Federal tax deposit form that contained the pertinent information (the correct taxpayer identification number) on Ken’s Audio. Special Agent Schwab had no personal contact or other communications with petitioners until April 1986. At this juncture, petitioners believed that the contact by IRS had been successfully concluded.
After examination of the returns, Special Agent Schwab concluded that petitioners could not afford Woodcrest Manor based upon their reported income. Special Agent Schwab did not find any indication of nontaxable sources of income which accounted for the difference, such as loans from Ken’s Audio. The corporate returns did not reflect shareholder loans outstanding, with the exception of the year ending April 30, 1981, which reflected a $541 beginning balance and $0 (no loans) ending balance.
Special Agents Schwab and Cunard also checked public records and found several contemporaneous land purchases and that certain relatively large mortgages had been paid over a short period of time. Information was also received from a local law enforcement official about Jones’ purchases of furnishings for his new home with checks drawn on Ken’s
Additionally, petitioners’ former certified public accountant and tax return preparer, J. Everett Flournoy, volunteered
Special Agent Cunard prepared a preliminary source and application of funds analysis with respect to petitioners’ 1979 through 1983 taxable years which indicated that petitioners may have had unreported income in 1980, 1981, and 1983 in the respective amounts of $42,271, $201,108, and $52,983. It also indicated that petitioners’ reported income for 1979 and 1982 exceeded the amount determined under the source and application of funds method in the respective amounts of $5,914 and $32,744.
Referral by CID to Civil Examination Division
Special Agents Schwab and Cunard recommended that the matter be referred to the examination division for a civil examination under the controlled referral program.
The Tweel case (U.S. v. Tweel, 55[0] F.2d 297 (5th Cir. 1977)) very clearly points out that the Service should not attempt to use a civil investigation to develop a criminal tax case. If a criminal case is being developed with regard to a taxpayer, the Service must respect the taxpayer’s rights and follow Manual instructions pertaining thereto. Therefore, under no circumstances will these procedures be used to develop a criminal tax case under the guise of a civil examination.
When Special Agent Schwab recommended that petitioners’ case be referred to the examination division, it had been the biggest unreported income case of his career which did not involve narcotics. The controlled referral package was assigned to Revenue Agent Bonnie Waldrep (Waldrep or Revenue Agent Waldrep) in late December 1984. Prior to that time, Waldrep and Special Agent Cunard had worked together for approximately 3 years when Cunard was a revenue agent with the examination group in Macon. During that period, Waldrep and Cunard were friends who went to lunch and took breaks together. The Macon office for IRS was a small one containing only one group of about eight people each for collection, civil examination, and criminal investigation. There was substantial potential for IRS employees to see each other during a working day, or during breaks or lunch.
Up to this point petitioners were aware of Schwab’s inquiry concerning the filing of corporate returns; had not sought to hire or involve a lawyer; had routinely referred the matter to their accountant; were not aware that special agents were interested in or had considered their individual income tax returns; had not been advised of their rights; and were not aware of any indication that their tax matters (either individual or corporate) had been or were being subjected to criminal investigation by the IRS.
On or about March 1, 1985, Waldrep advised petitioners by letter that their 1983 return would be examined. No mention was made of the 1979 through 1982 taxable years which were also referred from Schwab and Cunard. At the
Waldrep obtained petitioners’ bank records and prepared a bank deposit analysis of unexplained deposits/unreported income and she concluded that unexplained deposits exceeded the income reported on petitioners’ 1983 return by approximately $90,000. Lamb prepared a separate bank deposit analysis regarding petitioners’ 1983 taxable year which he shared with Waldrep. Lamb’s analysis also indicated that petitioners had substantial unexplained deposits approximating $100,000.
During various interviews, Waldrep obtained a number of admissions from Jones. Waldrep solicited the statement or admission that the corporation had paid Jones’ loan on the building where Ken’s Audio was located in the amount of $225,000. Waldrep considered the repayment of the $225,000 loan as additional income in 1980 and 1981. Jones also told Waldrep that Ken’s Audio had purchased and claimed deductions concerning a Mercedes which was being used by petitioners for personal purposes. Additionally, substantial documentation was obtained by Waldrep from the Joneses and their representatives.
Jones also told Waldrep what has been referred to as the “cold cash story.” After Jones had been advised by Lamb that his bank deposit analysis indicated unexplained deposits of approximately $100,000 and that Jones would have to reveal the source of these deposits to Waldrep, Jones told Waldrep that he maintained a cash hoard in the amount of approximately $100,000 in the freezer at their old home and this amount was used to fund new home construction. Jones also stated that the 1983 deposit items represented cash deposits.
On May 17, 1985, Lamb notified Waldrep that he was withdrawing from petitioners’ case and that J. René
On May 20, 1985, Revenue Agent Waldrep went to Hawkins’ law office and was presented with powers of attorney, Forms 2848, for petitioners personally and one, executed by Jones, for Ken’s Audio. Waldrep noticed a typographical error on petitioners’ individual power of attorney form and pointed it out to Hawkins. The tax, on the form, was incorrectly identified as “1040 corporate” rather than “1040 individual.” Hawkins left the conference room with the form and soon returned with it corrected. Thereafter, Hawkins left Waldrep in Hawkins’ conference room to review records. Waldrep proceeded to call Jones without first informing Hawkins. Jones was led to believe that his lawyer was sitting in the room with Waldrep during the call and he answered questions regarding purchase invoices from Ken’s Audio’s suppliers, whether they were 1983 accounts payable, whether he kept a detailed inventory, and various other questions about expenditures. Jones also admitted that personal expenses were paid out of the corporate checking account. After the call with Waldrep, Jones telephoned his attorney and expressed his anger and concern about being questioned by Waldrep and why attorney Hawkins permitted Waldrep to ask so many questions. Attorney Hawkins advised that he was unaware of the telephone conversation and he eventually expressed his displeasure to Waldrep about the improper contact with
Thereafter, matters deteriorated and Waldrep insisted on direct communication with petitioners, which request was denied by Hawkins. Waldrep then advised that the case would be referred for criminal purposes.
Referral by Civil Examiner Back to Criminal Investigation Division
On February 25, 1986, Waldrep prepared two fraud referral reports for CID regarding her examination of petitioners and Ken’s Audio: one criminal fraud referral for petitioners’ 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983 tax years; and one criminal fraud referral for the company’s taxable years ended April 30, 1983, and April 30, 1984. A substantial portion of the evidence identified by Waldrep as support for the fraud referrals was first acquired or identified in some respect by Special Agents Schwab and Cunard during their evaluation of the information item. Information available to Schwab and Cunard which had not been provided to Waldrep appeared in Waldrep’s report even though respondent’s agents denied any communication between criminal and civil agents concerning this case prior to Waldrep’s referral back to CID.
On October 6, 1987, a special agent’s report recommending prosecution of Jones was submitted by Special Agents Schwab and Cunard. Schwab’s recommendation was approved and criminal prosecution began. On April 14, 1988, as a result of a plea agreement, Jones waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with two counts of violating sec. 7206(1): One for making a false and fraudulent individual income tax return for 1981; and one for making a false and fraudulent corporate income tax return for the taxable year ended April 30, 1983. On May 26, 1988, the U.S. District Court entered judgment against Jones based on the guilty plea and sentenced him to 3 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
As a result of the criminal investigation and civil examination, respondent issued various notices of deficiency. On December 12, 1986, respondent mailed a notice
OPINION
In a pretrial setting, we consider whether this Court should employ the exclusionary rule if respondent’s agents, as petitioners allege, acquired evidence through trickery, deceit, and misrepresentation in violation of rights guaranteed to petitioners under the Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Amendments
In General
It has long been recognized that this Court has authority to inquire into the question of the admissibility of evidence. In Kluger v. Commissioner,
determinations regarding the admissibility of evidence in proceedings before this Court are an inherent power incident to this Court’s duty to redetermine proposed income tax deficiencies. The fact that a determination of admissibility of evidence involves an inquiry into the propriety of actions of other courts, or other branches of Government, has never been thought to deprive this or any other Federal court of the authority to exercise that power * * *
This authority also allows us to determine whether to receive evidence (which, otherwise, may be admissible) obtained by the Government illegally. Vallone v. Commissioner,
We have recognized an exception to this general rule in situations where there is substantial evidence of unconstitutional conduct on respondent’s part. Graham v. Commissioner,
The Exclusionary Rule — Generally
Courts, in civil litigation settings, have applied the exclusionary rule to suppress illegally obtained evidence. See Suarez v. Commissioner,
The exclusionary rule is a judicially created remedy which has been applied in situations where evidence is derived directly or indirectly from a violation of the Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Amendments. Nix v. Williams,
The Exclusionary Rule — Development of Supreme Court Case Law
Prior to considering whether any violation in the setting of this or any civil case would warrant use of the exclusionary rule, we should consider the progressive status of the exclusionary rule. The exclusionary rule sanction applies only where a Fourth Amendment violation is substantial and deliberate. United States v. Leon, supra at 909; Franks v. Delaware,
The Supreme Court in United States v. Janis,
Four years after Janis, the Supreme Court decided that the exclusionary rule applied only to violations involving the “defendant’s own constitutional rights.” United States v. Payner,
Were we to accept this use of the supervisory power, we would confer on the judiciary discretionary power to disregard the considered limitations of the law it is charged with enforcing. We hold that the supervisory power does not extend so far. [United States v. Payner,447 U.S. at 737 .]
Some 8 years after Janis, in United States v. Leon, supra, the use of the exclusionary rule was further restricted in an
In INS v. Lopez-Mendoza,
The Supreme Court’s opinions reflect a trend of increased limitation upon the exclusionary rule’s use and continued concern about whether it should be used in a civil setting. With these considerations in mind, we proceed to decide whether the exclusionary rule should be employed in this case.
The Exclusionary Rule — Application in the Civil Case Context
The exclusionary rule has been considered and employed in numerous criminal cases. In the setting of a criminal case there is a greater need to consider whether an individual’s rights have been protected. In a civil setting, it seems less
Due to these limitations, petitioners, in large part, rely on two cases which have similar facts to those considered here. The factual context we focus upon is one where a criminal investigation is conducted under the guise of an ostensible civil examination. That factual pattern was considered in United States v. Tweel,
It is a well established rule that a consent search is unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment if the consent was induced by the deceit, trickery or misrepresentation of the Internal Revenue agent.
The burden for determining whether or not the government has resorted to a deception is on the moving party and this Court in each of the above cases set forth what that party must establish [citing and quoting United States v. Prudden,424 F.2d 1021 , 1033 (5th Cir. 1970)]:
We conclude that the mere failure of a revenue agent (be he regular or special) to warn the taxpayer that the investigation may result in criminal charges, absent any acts by the agent which materially misrepresent the nature of the inquiry, does not constitute fraud, deceit and trickery. Therefore, the record here must disclose some affirmative misrepresentation to establish the existence of fraud, and the showing must be clear and convincing. * * *
*******
Silence can only be equated with fraud where there is a legal or moral duty to speak or where an inquiry left unanswered would be intentionally misleading.
From the facts we find that the agent’s failure to apprise the appellant of the obvious criminal nature of this investigation was a sneaky deliberate deception by the agent under the above standard and a flagrant disregard for appellant’s rights. The silent misrepresentation was both intentionally misleading and material. * * *
* * * Miller [the revenue agent] obviously knew the accountant inquired whether a special agent was involved to determine whether he was conducting a criminal audit. Miller’s response, although on the face of it true, misled appellant to such a degree that his consent to the “search” must be vitiated by the agent’s silence concerning the origin of this investigation.
* * * Because the IRS requires only special agents to warn taxpayers of their rights, by assigning a revenue agent the IRS still succeeded in masking the undeniable criminal.jpsature of this investigation and materially deceived this appellant.
*******
Since the consent given by appellant was obtained by deception, the microfilming of the documents constituted an unreasonable search in violation of the Fourth Amendment. * * *
[United States v. Tweel, supra at 299-300; citations and fn. refs, omitted.]
The facts in Tweel are similar to this case, with several important differences. Tweel was decided in connection with
The second case relied upon by petitioners is United States v. Toussaint,
Toussaint, in essence, involved the failure of the Government agent to follow the manual. Toussaint was decided in 1978 without the benefit of the Supreme Court opinion in United States v. Caceres,
when a routine tax audit has begun, the agent may obtain evidence of misreporting without warning the taxpayer of the changing direction of an examination. United States v. Sclafani,265 F.2d 408 (2d Cir. 1959), cert. denied360 U.S. 918 (1959). For, as the Court of Appeals succinctly stated in Selafani:
A “routine” tax investigation openly commenced as such is devoid of stealth or deceit because the ordinary taxpayer surely knows that there is inherent in it a warning that the Government’s agents will pursue evidence of misreporting without regard to the shadowy line between avoidance and evasion, mistake and willful omission.
[265 F.2d at 414-415 .]
See also United States v. Prudden,
The above-discussed differences erode the applicability of the Tweel case and substantially minimize the effect, if any, that Toussaint could have upon this case.
The Effect of a Prior Sanction and the Purpose for Which the Documents or Information Is Being Obtained
In Weiss v. Commissioner, supra, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a Memorandum Opinion of this Court wherein we had refused to apply the exclusionary rule in a civil tax case. In Weiss, the U.S. District Court had dismissed a criminal case against the same taxpayer because of a finding of institutional bad faith. The “bad faith” was attributable to IRS employees’ use of a civil summons for a criminal purpose, which was also in violation of internal manuals. In the civil tax case we refused to employ the exclusionary rule, in part, because the District Court’s dismissal with prejudice had been a sufficient deterrent.
The material subpoenaed is now being used for the fundamental purpose for which the IRS has always been authorized to obtain materials: the civil enforcement of the tax laws. The congressional intent behind limiting the IRS’s summons authority to civil investigations * * * does not apply in this civil proceeding. Congress never intended to deny the IRS the civil discovery that is necessary for civil enforcement of the tax laws. Here, the fruit of the civil summonses in question is being used for a strictly civil purpose. [Weiss v. Commissioner,919 F.2d at 118 .]
Application of the Legal Principles to This Case
In their suppression motion, petitioners assert that respondent’s agents violated their constitutional rights by gathering evidence during a criminal investigation that was conducted under the guise of a civil audit. In essence, petitioners argue that, but for the conduct of respondent’s agents, petitioners would not have provided certain evidence that was subsequently used in respondent’s criminal prosecution and eventually in deficiency determinations.
In the setting of this case, no other court has considered whether there were constitutional violations and whether it would be appropriate, for deterrent purposes, to employ the exclusionary rule. We found no cases holding that the Commissioner’s agent breaches a constitutional duty when the agent obtains information merely by failing to state specifically that he or she is conducting a criminal investigation. Compare United States v. Irvine,
The effectiveness of the exclusionary rule is the subject of continued question by the courts and has been generally limited to direct and affirmative violations in the setting of criminal cases. Additionally, the factual scenario in this case is somewhat outside our scope of supervisory responsibility and the application of the exclusionary rule would not necessarily be appropriate.
The alleged violations occurred prior to the issuance of the notice of deficiency, and if petitioners’ factual allegations are correct, during the criminal investigation. Moreover, respondent’s agents obtained petitioners’ consent or cooperation under the guise of a civil examination. The statements and documents given to respondent’s agents in that setting were submitted with the knowledge and consent that they might be used in a civil tax controversy. See Weiss v. Commissioner,
Petitioners’ counsel, on the record, stated that the exclusionary rule and the concept of suppression were advanced to the U.S. Department of Justice lawyers in connection with discussions after petitioner was charged and prior to a criminal trial. Petitioner pleaded guilty to 2 of 18 counts concerning violations, of criminal tax statues. Petitioners’ counsel believed that petitioner was allowed to plead guilty to one individual count and one corporate count, to some degree, due to the allegation of the violation of constitutional
Accordingly, we hold that petitioners’ motion seeking to sanction respondent by suppression of evidence or shifting of the burden of going forward to respondent will be denied, and the exclusionary rule will not be employed in the setting of this case.
Even if the holding of United States v. Tweel, supra, were applicable here, our record presents a close case concerning whether a Fourth Amendment violation occurred. There are certain differences which could distinguish this case from Tweel To prevail, petitioners must show by clear and convincing evidence the fraud or deceit on the part of the IRS. See Vallone v. Commissioner, supra at 809-810, and cases cited therein; United States v. Prudden,
Initially, we point out that the majority of evidence tending to show that a criminal investigation was being conducted under the guise of a civil examination was circumstantial. Although we would not generally expect to see direct evidence of activity labeled as “deceitful,” “misrepresentation,” or “fraudulent,” the cases in this area require clear and convincing evidence.
Additionally, an “affirmative misrepresentation” is prerequisite to a finding of a Fourth Amendment violation in this type of situation. See United States v. Powell,
Finally, we do not intend to condone any illegal or improper activity that may have occurred by declining to suppress evidence or otherwise sanction respondent in the setting, .of this case. Even though petitioners were unsuccessful in their motion to suppress, they have shown certain types of activity by respondent’s agents which were either inappropriate and/or reprehensible. Although we do not extend the holding of Tweel to this civil case, Tweel also stands for the proposition that the Commissioner’s agents are expected to deal in an honest and forthright manner when acting in their official capacity and may not abuse the power of their positions by deceiving a taxpayer in order to gain access to that taxpayer’s files. See United States v. Centennial Builders, Inc.,
A number of facts are most troublesome. For example, Revenue Agent Waldrep’s actual motives may have been revealed by her repeated (and successful) attempts to question Jones without the assistance of his attorney. Waldrep’s actions in calling Jones from his attorney’s office and implying that she was doing so with his attorney’s consent and in his attorney’s presence are reprehensible and, in the setting of this case, provide strong evidence of the deceitful nature of the agents’ activities. Waldrep’s excuse for her actions (that a typographical error rendered petitioners’ personal power of attorney invalid) is a feeble and insincere attempt to legitimize her actions. Once access to Jones was terminated, Waldrep, without delay or further investigation, referred the case to CID for a criminal
To reflect the foregoing,
An appropriate order will be issued.
Reviewed by the Court.
Notes
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as amended and in effect for the periods at issue.
Sec. 6653(b) is applicable for the 1980 and 1981 taxable years. Sec. 6653(b)(1) and (2) is applicable for the 1982 and 1983 taxable years.
An information item is a preliminary investigation. Special agents are limited in the types of inquiries they can make in evaluating the information item. Internal Revenue Manual sec. 9311.3(2) permits inquiries about returns filed and scrutiny of public records. Also, a taxpayer can be contacted by mail to verify his or her filing record utilizing Letter 1509(DO). Special agents cannot personally contact the taxpayer while evaluating an information item or issue summonses to third parties for records.
The parties acknowledge that it is unusual for the IRS to obtain a voluntary statement from a taxpayer’s certified public accountant because it is especially effective evidence that can be used against the taxpayer. It is also noted that Mr. Flournoy was not contacted by Schwab or Cunard in connection with the preliminary investigation of petitioners, but in connection with another, apparently unrelated, taxpayer.
This program involves cases which originate in CID and do not possess criminal potential, but which may have civil tax potential. The controlled referral program is operated under a policy consideration which anticipates that the examination division may refer the case back to CID when and if the civil examiner believes there is a firm indication of fraud.
Petitioners moved to suppress based upon the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments. As to the Sixth Amendment, no argument or discussion was presented by the parties. Concerning the Fourth and Fifth Amendment questions, it would be necessary to consider them in more detail if we decided that the exclusionary rule is applicable in the setting of this case. We have focused upon the Fourth Amendment, much as the parties have, to develop our rationale supporting our decision.
Petitioners’ argument is based upon the premise that they would not have cooperated if they had known that respondent was actually conducting a criminal investigation rather than a civil examination. Accordingly, the general focus of the inquiry is whether the alleged misrepresentations vitiate any consent to a search and seizure or waiver of the right against self-incrimination.
In reaching our conclusion here, we do not preclude the use of the exclusionary rule involving a Fourth Amendment rights violation within the context of a civil case.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring: This Court, having no general supervisory authority over respondent’s operations (see United States v. Payner,