SEATTLE
Federal authorities arrested an IRS agent today after he allegedly accepted payment from a Seattle marijuana businessman for saving him a million dollars in taxes, according to officials.
Paul G. Hurley, 42, of Seattle, is charged with soliciting and receiving a bribe and two counts of receiving a bribe.
If convicted, Hurley is facing up to 15 years in prison, officials said.
He, who has been an IRS agent since 2009, was scheduled to appeared in court today and was released on his personal recognizance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled Oct. 5.
This are the allegations according to the criminal complaint:
- Between July and September 2015, HURLEY was involved in the audit of the 2013 and 2014 tax returns of a Seattle marijuana business.
- Because marijuana remains illegal under federal law, no business deductions are allowed on federal tax returns and the gross revenue is taxable.
- Hurley presented the owner of the marijuana business with his tax bill for both years, totaling more than $290,000.
- However, Hurley told the business owner he had saved the business owner more than a million dollars. Hurley then asked the business owner for $20,000 in cash. The business owner alerted his lawyer, who contacted law enforcement.
- Law enforcement observed two meetings where HURLEY accepted money delivered by the business owner. Hurley was arrested following the second meeting this morning.
The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.