United States v. Ersbo

394 F. Supp. 1074, 36 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5843, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12113
CourtDistrict Court, D. Minnesota
DecidedMay 30, 1975
DocketNo. 4-75 Cr. 25
StatusPublished

This text of 394 F. Supp. 1074 (United States v. Ersbo) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Ersbo, 394 F. Supp. 1074, 36 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5843, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12113 (mnd 1975).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

ALSOP, District Judge.

The indictment charges the defendant with three counts of wilfully and knowingly filing a joint income tax return for the calendar years 1969, 1970, and 1971 which he did not believe to be true and correct in every material matter, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1). Defendant has moved the court for an order suppressing all statements made by him to IRS agents and all evidence turned over by him to IRS agents after April 26, 1973. The basis for these motions is that the IRS special agent failed to advise defendant of his rights as required by the November 26, 1968, IRS News Release IR-949.

[1075]*1075Prior to April 26, 1973, defendant Ersbo, a Lieutenant in the Fraud and Forgery Division of the Minneapolis Police Department, had met with a revenue agent of the IRS. Certain records and documents, which are the subject of the motion to suppress evidence, had been produced by Ersbo for the agent and were examined and returned to Ersbo. On April 26, 1973, special agent Michael A. Brandes of the IRS Intelligence Division attempted to contact Ersbo and when unsuccessful, left word for Ersbo to call. A meeting was arranged for April 30, 1973, between special agent Brandes and defendant Ersbo to be held at Ersbo’s office at 1910 Lowry Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the April 30th meeting, special agent Brandes and special agent George introduced themselves to Ersbo and explained that the function of the IRS Intelligence Division was to investigate possible criminal matters relating to income tax returns. Special agent Brandes began to advise Ersbo concerning his rights when Ersbo stopped him saying, in effect, that he was familiar with the Miranda, warning, that he knew his rights, and that agent Brandes did not have to give him his rights. Documents and records were produced by Ersbo that were the subject of previous examination by revenue agents.

A second meeting was held between special agent Brandes and Ersbo at the same location on May 10, 1973. Brandes acknowledged the previous statement by Ersbo that he was familiar with his rights, but went on to discuss Mr. Ersbo’s right to have an attorney attend the present meeting. Mr. Ersbo explained that he knew of his right to have an attorney at the meeting, but indicated that he did not desire to hire one at that particular time.

According to special agent Brandes, the defendant was at no time placed under arrest or within custody during the April 30th and May 10th meetings.

The IRS News Release IR-949, November 26, 1968, reads in part as follows:

One function of a Special Agent is to investigate possible criminal violations of Internal Revenue Laws. At the initial meeting with a taxpayer, a Special Agent is now required to identify himself, describe his function, and advise the taxpayer that anything he says may be used against him. The Special Agent will also tell the taxpayer that he cannot be compelled to incriminate himself by answering any questions or producing any documents, and that he has the right to seek the assistance of an attorney before responding.

Defendant argues that the IRS warning which was to be given even at a non-custodial investigation is broader than the Miranda warning. The Miranda warning requires that at a custodial interrogation defendant be advised “that he has the right to remain silent, that anything he says can be used against him in a court of law, that he has the right to the presence of an attorney, and that if he cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for him . . ..” Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 479, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 1630, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). The IRS warning, defendant points out, requires a further explanation by the special agent that the taxpayer “cannot be compelled to incriminate himself by producing any documents ..” In particular, defendant’s argument is that even though he waived his Miranda rights, it was necessary for agent Brandes to explain that defendant did not have to produce any documents. Failure to give this further warning, defendant contends, requires suppression of all statements and evidence obtained subsequent to that omission.

Defendant is not without support for his theory. Courts have held that even in a non-custodial investigation conducted by IRS Special Agents, failure to give [1076]*1076the publicized IRS warning supplied grounds for suppression of evidence. United States v. Leahey, 434 F.2d 7 (1st Cir. 1970); United States v. Heffner, 420 F.2d 809 (4th Cir. 1969). See also United States v. Lockyer, 448 F.2d 417 (10th Cir. 1972). The rationale for these decisions is that the dual civil-criminal nature of tax investigations places the taxpayer in the position of not knowing whether the information that he is providing will be used against him in a criminal proceeding or will merely subject him to additional civil tax liability. The IRS, in response to this recognizable conflict, promulgated and publicized1 regulations that would effectively warn the taxpayer that the investigation had changed in nature from civil to criminal. Because the agency violated its own procedures and the warning was not provided, the courts suppressed the evidence thereafter obtained. United States v. Leahey, supra-, United States v. Heffner, supra.

It is important to note that in Heffner, supra, the special agent procured an oral statement from the taxpayer prior to the publication of News Release IR-897, but after the release the special agent obtained the taxpayer’s signature on the statement without providing a warning that this was a criminal investigation or that the taxpayer could retain counsel. United States v. Heffner, supra, 420 F.2d at 811. The court held that although the statement itself was not introduced, it was apparent from the proceedings that “the jury knew that there existed a signed, written confession.” Id. at 813. The court remanded the case for further proceedings without use of the signed statement.2

In Leahey, supra, the defendant had several contacts with employees of the IRS who were not special agents. Later, special agents met with defendant without disclosing, as required by the IRS procedure, that they were investigating possible criminal tax fraud.3 At a second meeting, bank statements and books were obtained from the taxpayer by the special agents without mention of the criminal investigation or any other warning. United States v. Leahey, supra, 434 F.2d at 8. The court held that this obvious failure of the agency to conform to its announced procedures was sufficient grounds to uphold the lower courts suppression of the information and books and records obtained at the two meetings in question. Id. at 11.

The defendant cites a more recent case, United States v. Wohler, 382 F.Supp.

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Related

Escobedo v. Illinois
378 U.S. 478 (Supreme Court, 1964)
Miranda v. Arizona
384 U.S. 436 (Supreme Court, 1966)
Jerry M. Cohen v. United States
405 F.2d 34 (Eighth Circuit, 1969)
United States v. Clark Eugene Heffner
420 F.2d 809 (Fourth Circuit, 1970)
United States v. Elton M. Brevik
422 F.2d 449 (Eighth Circuit, 1970)
United States v. Alice E. Leahey
434 F.2d 7 (First Circuit, 1970)
United States v. Ralph Lockyer
448 F.2d 417 (Tenth Circuit, 1971)
United States v. Leslie P. Bembridge
458 F.2d 1262 (First Circuit, 1972)
United States v. Potter
385 F. Supp. 681 (D. Nevada, 1974)
United States v. Wohler
382 F. Supp. 229 (D. Utah, 1973)

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Bluebook (online)
394 F. Supp. 1074, 36 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5843, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12113, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-ersbo-mnd-1975.