Community Corner

Brad Birkenfeld, $104M Whistleblower, Arrested in Portsmouth

Bradley Birkenfeld, a whistleblower who received an enormous award for helping expose tax evaders, was arrested in Portsmouth.

Birkenfeld, 48, of Rye Beach, was charged with DWI at a roadblock set up by police Friday night. He was released on $750 bail.

Birkenfeld, a former UBS AG banker, was awarded $104 million by the United States government last year for acting as a whistleblower. It was the largest-ever payout of its kind, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Birkenfeld in 2008 was convicted of conspiracy and fraud for helping one of his wealthy banking customers. He then gave information to authorities about tax evasion practices going on at his bank, based in Switzerland, the Journal reported.

A year later, UBS agreed to pay about the U.S. government $780 million after a criminal case involving tax evasion practices, according to the Journal.

Birkenfeld last year was transferred to a halfway house in New Hampshire to finish his sentence.

He's scheduled to be arraigned on his DWI charge August 1.


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