United States of America v. Carranco
Filing
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MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS RE: I.R.S. Summons Enforcement re 1 Petition to Enforce IRS Summons filed by United States of America, signed by Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe on 11/29/11: Objections due within ten (10) days after being served with these findings and recommendations. (Hellings, J)
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BENJAMIN B. WAGNER
United States Attorney
YOSHINORI H. T. HIMEL #66194
Assistant United States Attorney
Eastern District of California
501 I Street, Suite 10-100
Sacramento, CA 95814-2322
Telephone: (916) 554-2760
Facsimile: (916) 554-2900
Email: yoshinori.himel@usdoj.gov
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Attorney for Petitioner United States of America
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
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Petitioner,
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v.
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FELIPE CARRANCO, General Partner, )
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Respondent.
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__________________________________ )
Case No. 1:11-cv-01621-LJO-BAM
MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S FINDINGS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS RE:
I.R.S. SUMMONS ENFORCEMENT
TAXPAYER: F&J CARRANCO FARM
LABOR
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This matter came before this Court on November 18, 2011, under the Order to
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Show Cause filed September 27, 2011, which, with the verified petition and
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memorandum, was properly served upon respondent under Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e) on
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October 4, 2011. Yoshinori H. T. Himel appeared for petitioners, and investigating
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Revenue Officer Lisa Cumiford was present. Respondent did not file an opposition and
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did not appear.
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The Verified Petition to Enforce I.R.S. Summons initiating this proceeding seeks
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to enforce an administrative summons (Exhibit A to the petition) in aid of Revenue
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Officer Cumiford's investigation of Felipe Carranco, as General Partner for F&J Carranco
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Farm Labor, to determine financial information relevant to the IRS’s efforts to collect
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Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment Tax (Form 940) for the tax years ending
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December 31, 2001, and December 31, 2003; as well as Employer’s Annual Federal Tax
Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations Re: I.R.S. Summons Enforcement
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Return for Agricultural Employees (Form 943) for the tax years ending December 31,
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2001, December 31, 2002, and December 31, 2003; plus a civil penalty for the tax year
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ending December 31, 2001.
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Subject matter jurisdiction is invoked under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1340 and 1345, and is
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found to be proper. Authorization for the action is under I.R.C. §§ 7402(b) and 7604(a)
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(26 U.S.C.). The Order to Show Cause shifted to respondent the burden of rebutting any
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of the four requirements of United States v. Powell, 379 U.S. 48, 57-58 (1964).
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The Court has reviewed the petition and documents in support. Based on the
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uncontroverted verification of Revenue Officer Cumiford and the entire record, the Court
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makes the following findings:
(1) The summons issued by Revenue Officer Lisa Cumiford to respondent, Felipe
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Carranco, on March 18, 2011, seeking testimony and production of documents and
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records in respondent's possession, was issued in good faith and for a legitimate purpose
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under I.R.C. § 7602, that is, to determine financial information relevant to the IRS’s
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efforts to collect Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment Tax (Form 940) for the tax
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years ending December 31, 2001, and December 31, 2003; as well as Employer’s Annual
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Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees (Form 943) for the tax years ending
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December 31, 2001, December 31, 2002, and December 31, 2003; plus a civil penalty for
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the tax year ending December 31, 2001.
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(2) The information sought is relevant to that purpose.
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(3) The information sought is not already in the possession of the Internal Revenue
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Service.
(4) The administrative steps required by the Internal Revenue Code have been
followed.
(5) There is no evidence of referral of this case by the Internal Revenue Service to
the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution.
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(6) The verified petition and its exhibits made a prima facie showing of
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satisfaction of the requirements of United States v. Powell, 379 U.S. 48, 57-58 (1964).
Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations Re: I.R.S. Summons Enforcement
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(7) The burden shifted to respondent, Felipe Carranco, to rebut that prima facie
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showing.
(8) Respondent presented no argument or evidence to rebut the prima facie
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showing.
The Court therefore recommends that the IRS summons issued to respondent,
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Felipe Carranco, as General Partner for F&J Carranco Farm Labor, be enforced, and that
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respondent be ordered to appear at the I.R.S. offices at 2525 Capitol Street, Suite 206,
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Fresno, California 93721, before Revenue Officer Lisa Cumiford, or her designated
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representative, twenty-one (21) days after the filing of the summons enforcement order,
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or at a later date to be set in writing by Revenue Officer Cumiford, then and there to be
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sworn, to give testimony, and to produce for examining and copying the books, checks,
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records, papers and other data demanded by the summons, the examination to continue
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from day to day until completed. The Court further recommends that if it enforces the
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summons, the Court retain jurisdiction to enforce its order by its contempt power.
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District
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Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and (C)
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and Rule 72-304 of the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Eastern
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District of California. Within ten (10) days after being served with these findings and
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recommendations, any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy
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on all parties. Such a document should be titled "Objections to Magistrate Judge's
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Findings and Recommendations." Any reply to the objections shall be served and filed
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within ten (10) days after service of the objections. The District Judge will then review
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these findings and recommendations pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The parties are
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advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to
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appeal the District Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).
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Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations Re: I.R.S. Summons Enforcement
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The Clerk shall serve this and future orders by mail to Mr. Felipe Carranco, 2023
Olive Street, Selma, California 93662.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Dated:
10c20k
November 29, 2011
/s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations Re: I.R.S. Summons Enforcement
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