It is recommended that the City Council:

1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement and accept funds in the amount of $18,000.00 from the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, for the purpose of receiving reimbursable overtime ($4,000.00) and travel ($14,000.00) costs incurred by the City in providing resources to a Joint Operations/Task Force;

2. Authorize the agreement to become effective on the same date it is executed by both parties and terminate on the last day of the current Fiscal Year;

3. Authorize the agreement to be renewed annually by terms agreeable to both parties, effective beginning on October 1 of each fiscal year; and

4. Adopt the attached appropriation ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the Grants Fund by $18,000.00 upon execution of the agreement.

This agreement will be established pursuant to the provisions of 31 U.S.C. 9703, the Treasury Forfeiture Fund Act of 1992, which provides for the reimbursement of certain expenses of local, county and state law enforcement agencies incurred as participants in joint operations/task forces with a Department of the Treasury law enforcement agency. The name of this Task Force is the "North Texas Asset Forfeiture Task Force." The Fort Worth Police Department will assign one Detective for overtime work purposes to this Joint Task Force/Operation.

The mission of the Task Force will be to develop and assist with criminal investigations of illegal activities and asset forfeitures in the North Texas area. IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) serves the American public by investigating potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code and related financial crimes in a manner that fosters confidence in the tax system and compliance with the law. The IRS CI is comprised of special agents whose investigative jurisdiction includes tax, money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act laws. IRS is the only federal agency that can investigate potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code.

As financial investigators, the North Texas Asset Forfeiture Task Force will fill a unique niche in the federal law enforcement community. Today's sophisticated schemes to defraud the government demand the analytical ability of financial investigators to wade through complex paper and computerized financial records. Along with their financial investigative skills, the North Texas Asset Forfeiture Task Force personnel will use specialized forensic technology to recover financial data that may have been encrypted, password protected, or hidden by other electronic means.

Additionally, the North Texas Asset Forfeiture Task Force will investigate and assist in the prosecution of   significant financial investigations that will generate the maximum deterrent effect, enhance voluntary compliance, and promote public confidence in the tax system.