On February 20, 2019, in the District of New Jersey, Certified Public Accountant Hamed Aref was charged with and pled guilty to bribery of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) revenue agent. Specifically, Aref knowingly gave the revenue agent approximately $3,000 to influence the outcome of an audit by reducing his client’s tax liability.

According to the court documents, Aref was the accountant and held power of attorney for an individual who was being audited by the IRS. In February 2012, an IRS revenue agent met with Aref, who offered payment to the revenue agent if the revenue agent could “help out” by reducing his client’s tax liability. The revenue agent reported this meeting to law enforcement. In a subsequent recorded meeting, the revenue agent produced a false audit report reflecting the reductions in income that Aref had requested. Aref then asked the revenue agent to leave the office and left an envelope containing $3,000 in cash on the revenue agent’s chair. Aref told the revenue agent that his client was aware of the cash payment, and that his client provided the cash to Aref for the payment.

Aref could face a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for June 6, 2019.

Source:  The facts in this case narrative come from the following publicly available documents: D.N.J. Crim. Docket as of Feb. 25, 2019; and D.N.J. Information filed Feb. 20, 2019.