Barry Bonds, Victim of Out-of-Control IRS Agent

By Ron Howell
Guest Contributor

I remember being in front of the television once, mindlessly watching a stupid movie, and this guy on the screen pulls out a gun, identifies himself as an I.R.S. agent and begins firing at some poor fellow, a shocked tax delinquent. 

I thought the scene was hilarious. I always had this notion of I.R.S. agents as trigger-happy, overly zealous, poor excuses for law enforcement officers.

And now, having read the recent New York Times exposé revealing that it was a wild I.R.S. agent who targeted Barry Bonds, things began to fall into place for me.

All along I had been wondering what the big deal was. Why were “they” going after this guy who in his 40s did an amazing thing – hit more home runs than anyone before him in professional baseball?

All of a sudden there's a mission to go after athletes for using drugs?In this case Barry Bonds for allegedly using body-building steroids? 

And now the answer. An agent named Jeff Novitzky – who seems almost high on speed in his zealotry and who tried to get the Times not to publish his name or use his picture – is the one who went after Barry Bonds. 

Herewith is the story and above is the photo, showing I.R.S. Special Agent Jeff Novitzky, left, walking ahead of Barry Bonds in 2003 when Mr. Bonds gave his grand jury testimony.

The picture was originally taken by Paul Chinn and published by the San Francisco Chronicle. 

(Most of you know that Bonds was recently indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice related to the steroid using case.)

 

Ron Howell is a veteran journalist and neophyte blogger. Over the years, Ron has been a reporter – domestic and overseas – for Newsday, The Associated Press, Ebony Magazine, The New York Daily News and The Baltimore Evening Sun.

Comments

[tabldot yemek]

why am i not surprised that it is a pissant i.r.s.agent drunk on power who is trying to turn mr.bonds and mr. clements into criminals.

[konteyner]

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[lazer epilasyon]

great page! thanks a lot...

[burun estetiği]

Hi Estetik.. wow i never knew that a country banned Wordpress.. is there a reason why?

[Me]

Such an ignorant blog. learn the facts before pushing your hate.

[bruce]

why am i not surprised that it is a pissant i.r.s.agent drunk on power who is trying to turn mr.bonds and mr. clements into criminals.

[tercume]

nice post thnaks

[tercume]

nice post thanks!

[rikyrah]

This is an OT:
Most important news to come out of the Black and Brown Forum in Iowa and something that should be of concern to the AfroSphere:

Hillary Clinton comes out AGAINST retroactivity in drug sentencing.

Just spreading the word, because this is major.

[Eddie Griffin]

A dumpster-diving IRS agent is disturbing, not because of what he finds, but because of his intent on finding.