Bradley Birkenfeld was sentenced in August to more than three years in prison for helping some people not pay their taxes during his time as a private banker at UBS. That’s fine, and he accepts that. What Birkenfeld does not accept, however, is a bull shit claim by the Internal Revenue Service that they don’t owe him any money for helping build a case against the Swiss bank, and what appears to be less than a veiled threat that they won’t have a check waiting for him when he gets out of the joint. His representation agrees.
Birkenfeld lawyer Dean Zerbe of Zerbe, Fingeret, Frank & Jadav said his client is entitled to a piece of the U.S. government’s $780 million settlement with UBS, and that he also has a claim to a portion of the money the IRS recovers from wealthy Americans who hid assets in offshore accounts — both at UBS and at other banks.
Zerbe also makes a seriously bold claim that while probably difficult to prove could make Birkenfeld’s case.
“He didn’t just give them a piece of the puzzle. He gave them the entire puzzle,” Mr. Zerbe said. “They didn’t know how to spell UBS until he showed up.”
UBS Sucks
Sounds like Zerbe is stealing JD’s lines.
Federal False Claims Act. Smith Barney banker who ratted out the municipal bond “yield burning” got millions from the settlement payments.
UBwhat?
I’m more concerned about the 6 year old trapped in a home made helium balloon spaceship floating across Colorado.
I think they should get chopper 5 on the case.
Greg -
I am going to dress as a clown and bring you a baloon. And make you sit in my lap.
John Wayne Gacy
The bums lost, sir!! Condolences!!
This is why you don’t become an informant. No upside whatsoever and you’ll never get a real job again.
@7– well that’s like, your opinion, man
@7– well that’s like, your opinion, man
@9/10 – I know who you are. Don’t Dartmouth juniors have better things to do than troll Dealbreaker?
@11 if you could identify 9/10 as a d-mouth junior wouldn’t that make you one? or a dartmouth sophomore/senior?
That’s a great plan, [Zerbe]. That’s fuckin’ ingenious, if I understand it correctly. It’s a Swiss fuckin’ watch
The U.S. government was forced to admit in open court two months ago that it had absolutely no idea that UBS was engaged this illegal activity all of these years until the whistleblower, Bradley Birkenfeld, voluntarily initiated contact with them (IRS, SEC, Dept of Justice and U.S. Senate) and told them all about it. In fact, they admitted that if Birkenfeld had not come forward to tell them what was going on, right under their own noses, the illegal UBS conduct would still be going on today.
IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman boasted about the new “robust” whistleblower program while testifying before the Senate in March of this year. Well, this is a golden opportunity for Mr. Shulman to put his money where his mouth is and reward the whistleblower in accordance with the law, instead of subverting and attacking the whistleblower (the law was actually passed before he was named IRS commissioner but Mr. Shulman is not one to let the facts get in the way of a good boast).