The same morning and around the same time that Dallas was inaugurating its new mayor, the federal government conducted a surprise raid. The FBI descended upon a Dallas County commissioner’s Oak Cliff residence and Elm Street workplace in search of evidence of tax evasion and other crimes.
A swarm of federal agents combed the commissioner’s files and papers in his Dallas office at the Commissioner’s Court building, making no public comment other than to indicate they were acting on a federal search warrant.
The 27-year political veteran says he has no clue why the feds paid him a visit. According to news sources that have examined the search warrants, the federal agencies were looking for evidence that could connect the politician to charges of fraud, bribery, tax evasion and money laundering.
The county commissioner’s home and office were not the only places searched. Items were also photographed or boxed up and removed from inside and outside the homes and offices of two of the commissioner’s aides.
The long-time politician says he had only seen the warrants that the federal agencies used to search and seize the items they took. Unruffled, the county commissioner stated that it was not the first time that he had been investigated and said he planned to carry out business as usual the following day.
Federal officials and the IRS can be very intimidating entities. They will not hesitate to go after people they think have committed some form of tax crime. Being charged with tax evasion or a similar crime can come with serious consequences, so seeking professional legal advice may be beneficial.
Source: myfoxdfw.com, “Commissioner John Wiley Price’s Office, Home Searched,” Alice Wolke, 27 June 2011
