ROSLYNN R. MAUSKOPF, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and MICHAEL A. DELGADO, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Department of the Treasury, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration ("TIGTA"), announced that HERBERT WEIN, a former Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") examiner, pleaded guilty today to soliciting a bribe in connection with his position with the IRS in November 2001. The guilty plea was entered this afternoon before United States District Judge Thomas C. Platt at the United States Courthouse in Central Islip, New York.

WEIN had been employed in the IRS's Manhattan office since July 27, 1981, and was responsible for conducting tax audits. According to the pleadings in this case, in November 2001, WEIN solicited a cash bribe in the amount of $200,000 from the attorney for the Wego Chemical and Mineral Corporation, located in Great Neck, New York, in exchange for promising to lower the company's tax liability. Specifically, during a meeting with Wego's attorney, WEIN informed the attorney that he (WEIN) had the ability to increase Wego's tax liability from $15,000 up to $1.2 million. WEIN further advised the attorney that Wego's tax liability could be settled at $15,000 in exchange for a cash payment of $200,000 to WEIN. Shortly after this meeting, the attorney notified law enforcement officials and agreed to cooperate with them.

At the request of law enforcement agents, the attorney met with WEIN in early December 2001. During this meeting, WEIN again offered to provide a final tax liability of $15,000 for Wego in exchange for $200,000. At the end of the meeting, acting at the direction of law enforcement agents, the attorney offered WEIN a $5,000 deposit on the cash bribe. WEIN refused to accept the deposit and told the attorney that he preferred to receive the total amount at one time. Thereafter, on January 23, 2002, the attorney and WEIN met at the attorney's office in New Jersey. During this meeting, the attorney provided WEIN with $200,000 in cash supplied by federal law enforcement agents. WEIN was arrested as he left the attorney's office with the money.

In pleading guilty to one count of soliciting a bribe in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 201(b)(2)(C), WEIN admitted that he solicited a $200,000 bribe while employed by the IRS.

WEIN faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, $250,000 in fines, as well as three years of supervised release.

In announcing the guilty plea MS. MAUSKOPF stated, "HERBERT WEIN abused his position of trust and authority for his personal gain, and in the process corrupted the integrity of the tax collection system. We will vigorously prosecute such blatant breaches of the public trust."

MR. DELGADO stated, "IRS integrity is very high, however the actions of this defendant demonstrate the need for this type of investigation."

The government's case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James E. Tatum, Jr.

New York, New York