Pubdate: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Section: News Page: 11 (Front page of section) Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Author: Curt Anderson-The Associated Press PANEL: NO WIDE ABUSES BY THE IRS Government: An Independent Review Does Recommend That The Agency's Agents Focus On Tax Matters, Not Drug Busts. Washington-The Internal Revenue Service's criminal division has "drifted" from its proper focus on tax enforcement but is not guilty of widespread violation of taxpayer rights, according to an independent review released Tuesday. A task force of federal law-enforcement officials headed by William Webster, a former federal judge and former director of both the FBI and the CIA, said instances in which taxpayer rights are violated are "isolated and individual" despite some high-profile horror stories. "No evidence was found of systemic abuses," Webster wrote. But he cautioned that agents must be aware "that even isolated instances of abuse of authority can create impressions that undermine the public's confidence." The report also found that the 3,000-agent IRS Criminal Investigation Division properly uses search warrants, grand juries and raids, and that deadly force was extremely limited. In fact, since 1995 only one case involved use of a firearm - the shooting of a pit bull dog that charged an agent during a search. "There is no evidence in the use-of-force incidents to suggest that CI agents are overly aggressive, use force unnecessarily or are improperly trained," Webster wrote. But the division, Webster wrote, has "drifted from its primary mission," which is to "investigate criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code." This has happened mainly because the division possesses "sophisticated financial expertise" needed by other law-enforcement agencies. In fact, 25 percent of agents' time is spent on drug investigations, and they are often under the control of a local U.S. attorney as part of a wider-ranging criminal probe. This does little to help collect an estimated $195 billion in annual unpaid taxes, Webster found. Webster urged the division to rededicate itself to enforcing the tax laws and not get sidetracked on the tax aspects of crimes such as money laundering and drug trafficking. In a letter to Webster, IRS Commissioner Charles Rossotti agreed with Webster's conclusions and promised "more considered decisions" regarding use of criminal investigation agents for matters other than tax compliance. - --- MAP posted-by: Patrick Henry