Jim Lee, Chief of IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), recently announced his retirement after a long and successful career with the agency. Lee has been with IRS-CI since 1995, serving in various roles throughout his tenure, including as the Director of Strategy and the special agent in charge of different field offices. In 2020, he was named Chief of IRS-CI, a position he held until his retirement announcement earlier this year.
As Chief of IRS-CI, Lee oversaw the agency’s efforts in conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. He led the agency through several high-profile cases, including the takedown of Hydra Market, the indictment of Robert T. Brockman for tax evasion, and the Binance plea for violations related to the Bank Secrecy Act. Lee also played a key role in shutting down Welcome to Video, the largest dark web child pornography site in the world.
One of Lee’s proudest moments during his tenure was receiving the 2023 Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service, recognizing his significant contributions to the federal government. He also highlighted the agency’s evolution into a cutting-edge, data-centric law enforcement agency, emphasizing the importance of analytics, cyber, and technology in combating financial crimes. Lee expressed confidence in IRS-CI’s future growth and development in these areas.
Looking ahead, Lee mentioned the launch of a new cyber center, the Advanced Collaboration and Data Center (ACDC), aimed at enhancing the agency’s capabilities in investigating cyber-related financial crimes. Additionally, he expressed optimism about the incoming Chief, Guy Ficco, who he believes will continue to uphold IRS-CI’s reputation as a premier financial agency. Lee emphasized the importance of investing in the right tools and resources to keep pace with evolving fraud techniques in the digital age.
While reflecting on his career with IRS-CI, Lee recognized the agency’s commitment to training and developing new agents to tackle complex financial crimes. He commended the agency’s efforts in building a strong leadership team and preparing for future challenges in the field. Lee’s dedication to IRS-CI’s mission over the past 29 years has not gone unnoticed, and his contributions to the agency’s success will be remembered as he embarks on his retirement journey.
