TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding, a Reimbursement Agreement, an Equitable Sharing Agreement and any subsequent amendments thereto; and all necessary documents with the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS, CI) for a joint task force with the Long Beach Police Department to develop and assist with criminal investigations and asset forfeitures of illegal activities in the Long Beach metropolitan and surrounding area. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In 2006, the Criminal Investigations office of the Internal Revenue Service started developing joint task forces with state and local agencies around the country to help conduct financial investigations with an emphasis on money laundering and tax evasion investigations. The IRS Los Angeles office is currently developing a similar task force that will consist of various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD), through its Asset Forfeiture Unit, will initiate financial criminal investigations of persons and criminal organizations that operate in and around the Long Beach area. These investigations will help focus on a top-down approach of large to medium scale money laundering and other financial crimes that drive criminal enterprises, such as narcotic and gang activity, in our city.
The MOU and related agreements shall be for the term commencing at the signing of this agreement through September 30, 2010, automatically renewable at the end of each fiscal year. Either party shall have the right to terminate the agreement for any reason or no reason by giving the other party 30 days’ prior written notice.
City of Long Beach expenditures, primarily for police overtime, will be reimbursed by the IRS, CI per the terms of the related "Agreement Between Treasury Law Enforcement Agencies and Long Beach Police Department for the Reimbursement of Expenses" (Reimbursement Agreement).
Asset seizures and forf...
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