Chief Jim Lee of IRS Criminal Investigation will retire from federal service effective April 6. A replacement has not been named.
Lee has led CI since October 2020, overseeing a staff of more than 3,200 employees, including 2,200 special agents, who have investigated financial crimes involving tax violations, money laundering, public corruption, cybercrime, ID theft, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking and terrorism financing.
"It has been the honor of my career to serve as the chief of CI," Lee said in a statement. "I have been fortunate to be surrounded by talented men and women across every discipline of the organization as we have unraveled some of the most complex financial crimes this world has ever seen."
He is a 2023 recipient of the Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service and was recently chosen to co-chair the Treasury Department's Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force. He ran CI during some of the most significant enforcement actions in the agency's 100-plus year history, including the shutdown of the largest darknet marketplace and the largest financial seizure in the history of government.
Lee has also been a leader in the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (a.k.a. the J5) to combat transnational tax crime.
"Lee has been an incredible federal servant — starting out as a special agent and then climbing the ranks to lead CI," added IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel.
He began his career in 1995 as a special agent in Detroit and has served as the special agent in charge of the New Orleans Field Office and as the executive special agent in charge of the Chicago Field Office.
Lee has also served in other executive roles for CI, including director of strategy, director of northern field operations, director of southern field operations and deputy chief.
