Charges: IRS agent solicited bribe from Seattle pot shop
By KOMO Staff
Published: Sep 21, 2015 at 4:33 PM PDT Last Updated: Sep 21, 2015 at 6:47 PM PDT
SEATTLE -- A Seattle IRS agent accused of soliciting a bribe from the owner of a marijuana store was arrested Monday and is facing several federal charges.
Prosecutors say 42-year-old Paul Hurley began auditing a Seattle pot store in July, and when he finished in September he told the owner he could save him $1 million in taxes and asked to be paid $20,000 in cash.
Hurley, who has been an IRS agent since 2009, allegedly told the business owner he was unhappy with his job and living paycheck to paycheck.
According to court documents, Hurley initially asked the business owner to pay off his student loan debt in small amounts over time. When the owner said he didn't think that was a good idea, Hurley said he wanted cash, according to prosecutors.
The business owner told his lawyer about the interaction, who then called the police.
The FBI got involved and gave the business owner $5,000 to give to Hurley during a September 16 meeting at a local Starbucks. FBI agents monitored the transaction and saw the business owner hand an envelope full of cash to Hurley, according to charging papers.
Hurley and the business owner agreed to meet at the same Starbucks Monday morning so the business owner could hand over the rest of the $20,000 bribe, according to prosecutors. The FBI once again gave the business owner cash -- $15,000 in an envelope -- and watched as he again handed the money to Hurley.
After the transaction, Hurley was arrested and booked into jail. He was charged on Monday with soliciting and agreeing to receive a bribe by a public official and two counts of receiving a bribe by a public official.
If convicted, Hurley faces 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle
