U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. Joins the Department of Justice to Announce Unprecedented Fraud Enforcement Actions Across the Southeast

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. joined Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, other Department of Justice leaders, and federal and state law enforcement partners for a press conference announcing a series of significant fraud enforcement actions across the Southeastern United States. The Northern District of Alabama was one of the few chosen to speak at the press event due to the recent cases from that office in the fight against fraud. During the press conference, U.S. Attorney Williams highlighted a major fraud case from the Northern District of Alabama that was investigated by IRS Criminal-Investigations. Research indicates that US v. Michael Shine is the third largest tax fraud case in years. United States vs Michael Shine In recent days, the complaint was unsealed and Michael Shine was taken into custody. Shine is a tax preparer based in the Birmingham area who owns and operates Shine’s Professional Services. It is alleged in the complaint that he filed and caused to be filed thousands of tax returns falsely claiming green energy tax credits that were baseless and fraudulent, causing over $65 million in loss to the government and the taxpaying citizens of America. “We are committed in our State to continue doing what it takes to combat fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “The Northern District of Alabama will continue this fight because it is a fight worth having. My sincere thanks to the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who pursued this case with our partners at the IRS, and I appreciate the fact that we have a national task force dedicated to fight fraud.” The National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED) additionally announced new federal-state cooperation agreements with this group of states to strengthen ongoing fraud enforcement efforts, following a recent roundtable that brought together 18 U.S. Attorneys Offices, seven State Attorneys General Offices, five federal law enforcement partners, and over 50 state officials. At the Fraud Enforcement Roundtable event Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen signed a Memorandum of Intent to partner with the NFED to jointly pursue efforts to combat fraud in this state. The NFED is a part of a national effort under the direction of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and in concert with the overall whole of government effort of the Trump Administration to combat fraud.