Bandit Gang Writ Large

Riveting and Chilling: Victims of IRS Targeting Tell Their Stories on Capitol Hill

"Testifying on Capitol Hill Tuesday, witnesses from Tea Party, pro-life and patriotic educational groups from around the country testified about their experience of intimidation and targeting from the Internal Revenue Service. Witnesses described being sent hundreds of pages from the IRS asking invasive questions about members, books, contents of prayers and the names of anyone attending meetings, including children." Continue reading →

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IRS Buying Spying Equipment: Covert Cameras in Coffee Trays, Plants

"The IRS, currently in the midst of scandals involving the targeting of conservative groups and lavish taxpayer-funded conferences, is ordering surveillance equipment that includes hidden cameras in coffee trays, plants and clock radios. The IRS wants to secure the surveillance equipment quickly – it posted a solicitation on June 6 and is looking to close the deal by Monday, June 10. The agency already has a company lined up for the order but is not commenting on the details." Continue reading →

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Bitcoin among virtual currencies targeted in US crackdown on tax evasion

"Just weeks after US prosecutors shut down digital currency operator Liberty Reserve for allegedly running one of the biggest money laundering schemes ever uncovered, prosecutors are scrutinising the use of virtual currencies - which can be traded anonymously - to evade tax. In future, taxpayers could be forced to disclose to the IRS whether they are using PayPal accounts for the virtual transfer of money. The latest move follows a landmark decision by Switzerland last month, which accepted a settlement over alleged bank complicity in evasion by Americans. Switzerland had long considered bank secrecy laws untouchable." Continue reading →

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How the CIA Maneuvered to Get Secret Information From a Swiss Banker

"He described as formative an incident in which he claimed CIA operatives were attempting to recruit a Swiss banker to obtain secret banking information. Snowden said they achieved this by purposely getting the banker drunk and encouraging him to drive home in his car. When the banker was arrested for drunk driving, the undercover agent seeking to befriend him offered to help, and a bond was formed that led to successful recruitment. 'Much of what I saw in Geneva really disillusioned me about how my government functions and what its impact is in the world,' he says. 'I realised that I was part of something that was doing far more harm than good.'" Continue reading →

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Former ‘Plunge Protection Team’ Official: Expect More Government Theft

"Look, we are in a world where every major industrialized government doesn’t have the funds to deliver on the promises they’ve made to the public. So they are going to reach for the public’s cash in different ways....Some of it is through higher taxes. Some of it is what I would call ‘expropriation,’ although taxation and even inflation are a version of that. I think what we saw in Cyprus, a really overt expropriation, we are going to see that come in lots of different forms (going forward). Some of it will be obvious like Cyprus. Some of it will be subtle like Portugal, but what’s sure is that it’s happening.” Continue reading →

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Dutch government answers questions about Bitcoin, indicates Bitcoin taxable

"A taxpayer who has a source of income with activities in the course of trade, such as income from business or income from an activity, will have to pay taxes over that in compliance with the provisions of the Income Tax Act 2001. The fact that the benefits from such a source are calculated using a scheme other than the legal tender in force in our country does not make a difference. Such a benefit in the form of a result in Bitcoins will also lead to taxation. However, the determination of a taxed income will mean that the value of the results achieved in Bitcoins must be converted into an amount in euros. For the wage and sales tax, a similar approach applies." Continue reading →

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France Prohibits Sending Currency, “Coins And Precious Metals” By Mail

"In new legislation which was enacted May 23rd, the French government decreed that it is forbidden to send all forms of currency - coins and cash and all forms of precious metals – coins, bars and jewellery by mail. There were no communications and nobody in the government justified or explained this decision. 3 months ago in March, Fedex began stopping French people from taking delivery of precious metals. At the start of the year, UPS began stopping French people from taking delivery of precious metals. In recent days Fedex have stopped allowing companies and individuals to send or receive precious metal bullion by insured mail in Germany and the UK." Continue reading →

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Ohio: Mother-Daughter Speed Trap Team Face The Judge

"Between July 2007 and February 2010, Covert and Jarvis used their positions in charge of handling cash, making bank deposits for the village and maintaining traffic court records, to skim $260,000 in revenue collected from drivers into their own pockets. The village, population 742, is a notorious speed trap, as documented by the National Speed Trap Exchange. Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters concluded Arlington Heights should not even exist. 'The village council needs to seriously consider dissolving the village of Arlington Heights,' Deters said in a statement. 'The village seems to be nothing more than a speed trap with no checks and balances.'" Continue reading →

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Detroit police’s simulated purse snatching goes awry

"An FBI agent almost shot a Detroit cop on Wednesday at a gas station while filling up. The idea was to simulate a purse snatching and then invite a TV crew to film your reaction Detroit. 'The event takes place. The officer takes the purse, runs around the gas station. As he's running, an off-duty FBI agent is pumping gas. He witnesses the whole thing. He gives chase. He pulls his weapon, and as he turns the corner around the gas station, he's stopped by another officer, who identifies herself as a police officer and don't shoot, don't shoot, this is a scenario,' said Inspector Shawn Gargalino with the Detroit Police Department." Continue reading →

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Has Switzerland Really Caved to US Pressure?

"It is important to note that whilst Swiss bank secrecy is already being counted out by mainstream media across the board, the fact is that in Switzerland the resistance to losses of privacy and other fundamental rights based on demands by foreign nations is growing. More and more Swiss, in government and the Swiss Parliament too, are fed up with the pressures emanating from neighboring states and the US, all based on those countries' dismal fiscal situations and overly zealous hunt for tax revenue. Against this backdrop, an initiative was just launched by some Swiss right-wing political parties that would make bank secrecy a constitutional right." Continue reading →

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