The old saying is that a friend in need is a friend indeed. When a person is in trouble, they find out quickly who their real friends are and which people were mere acquaintances. An example of this can be found in the story of a 70-year-old man sentenced to seven years in prison after he was unable to pay more than $1 million in back taxes.
A friend of his stepped forward and paid authorities $300,000 of the money owed in the tax fraud case. The 70-year-old, who had spent about seven weeks in incarceration, was then allowed to return home and ordered to continue making payments. A prosecutor scoffed at the arrangement, saying the $300,000 "magically" appeared after a new attorney began working for the man.
As those who have worked with attorneys experienced in complicated tax matters understand, there is no magic involved. Instead, effective defense is a combination of hard work, attention to detail, a deep understanding of the law, negotiation abilities and litigation skills.
The case involving the 70-year-old resulted in felony tax fraud charges being filed in 2011 after a full decade of investigation of his finances and his wife's finances.
That long of an investigation might surprise some readers, but it's a time frame not unheard of. Government investigations often span years.
For those under investigation, the pressure on family and business relationships can be enormous. That's why it makes sense to discuss the situation with Mark Horwitz who has represented many people under criminal tax investigation. Mr. Horwitz's office is in Orlando, Florida; however, he handles federal cases throughout the country.
