TAXLITIGATOR – Tax Controversy (Civil & Criminal) Report

On January 8, 2026, in response to alleged benefits fraud in Minnesota, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced the issuance of a Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) requiring all banks and money transmitters located in Hennepin County and Ramsey County, Minnesota, (Covered Businesses) to file reports with FinCEN of certain international fund transfers of $3,000 or more.

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Sandra R. Brown is a Principal of Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C., where her practice focuses on criminal tax investigations, grand jury matters, litigation, and sentencing matters as well as representing and advising taxpayers involved in complex and sophisticated civil tax controversies, including sensitive-issue audits and administrative appeals and litigation. Ms. Brown’s extensive experience and successes have included many notable cases including two U.S. Supreme Court decisions, numerous 9^th Circuit rulings and numerous favorable administrative resolutions for taxpayers involved in IRS investigations and audits.

Prior to joining the firm in 2018, Ms. Brown served as the Acting United States Attorney, First Assistant United States Attorney, and Chief of the Tax Division in the Office of the U.S. Attorney, Central District of California; where, with 27 years as a trial lawyer, she personally litigated over 2,000 tax cases on behalf of the United States.

Ms. Brown obtained her LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Denver, is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, Vice-Chair of the ABA’s Section of Taxation’s Criminal and Civil Tax Penalties Committee, Co-Chair of the UCLA Tax Controversy Institute, Co-Chair of the ABA Criminal Tax Fraud and Tax Controversy Conference, an ABA Loretta Collins Argrett Fellowship Mentor, and is a frequent lecturer and author on tax controversy topics, including international compliance and criminal tax matters. Ms. Brown has been recognized as one of California’s top 100 leading women lawyers, the recipient of USD School of Law’s Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award, Chambers High Net Worth in Tax and Tax Fraud, and an honoree of the inaugural Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Tax Lawyers.

For more information, please contact Sandra R. Brown at brown@taxlitigator.com