Title: Lucifer's Banker
Author: Bradley C. Birkenfeld
Stars: 5 out of 5
Review:
A tell all story by a former American banker who worked for the Swiss bank UBS. The information he provided broke the Swiss banks secrecy and made it possible for the US Government to obtain previously withheld banking information for US citizens. Although he was prosecuted, and served prison time, he was given a whistle blower reward over $104 million based on the amount of taxes collected by the IRS. Should he have been sentenced to prison? That is up to each reader to decide after reading the book. I found some of the names mentioned to be eye-openers but not surprising.
I enjoyed the book and do not believe that he should have been sentenced to prison. I have rated it 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a look behind the scenes at what has happened in the past and more than likely will continue to happen in the future.
I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.
Thank you Frank
As a private banker working for the largest bank in the world, UBS, Bradley Birkenfeld was an expert in Switzerland’s shell-game of offshore companies and secret numbered accounts. He wined and dined ultrawealthy clients whose millions of dollars were hidden away from business partners, spouses, and tax authorities. As his client list grew, Birkenfeld lived a life of money, fast cars, and beautiful women, but when he discovered that UBS was planning to betray him, he blew the whistle to the US Government.
The Department of Justice scorned Birkenfeld’s unprecedented whistle-blowing and attempted to silence him with a conspiracy charge. Yet Birkenfeld would not be intimidated. He took his secrets to the US Senate, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Internal Revenue Service, where he prevailed.
His bombshell revelations helped the US Treasury recover over $15 billion (and counting) in back taxes, fines, and penalties from American tax cheats. But Birkenfeld was shocked to discover that at the same time he was cooperating with the US Government, the Department of Justice was still doggedly pursuing him. He was arrested and served thirty months in federal prison. When he emerged, the Internal Revenue Service gave him a whistle-blower award for $104 million, the largest such reward in history.
Hardcover, 344 pages
Published November 1st 2016 by Greenleaf Book Group Pr
Bradley C. Birkenfeld is a retired financial industry professional renowned as the most significant whistle-blower in history. He is dedicated to supporting whistle-blower initiatives exposing and eliminating fraud. As a result of Brad’s historic actions, the risks and costs to financial institutions that support clients’ tax evasion, fraud, corruption, and terrorist activities have increased dramatically.
Birkenfeld holds a BS in Economics from Norwich University in Vermont and an International MBA from the American Graduate School of Business in Switzerland.
A lifelong fan of the Boston Bruins, Brad works with the team to help disadvantaged children, along with other philanthropic endeavors.
Website:
http://lucifersbanker.com/
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