Frank Wilson Accomplishments

Who exactly is Frank J. Wilson? No one really knows any information about him besides his career accomplishments. These accomplishments are what make him an index worthy historical figure. So what do we know about Wilson? He was born on May 19, 1887 in Buffalo, New York. No other information is known about Wilson’s early life. It is known that during World War I, he served in the United States Army until he was discharged for his impaired vision in 1919. Wilson was appointed chief New York State investigator for the US Food and Drug Administration in the same year. Wilson later worked for the Department of Justice Fair Price Commission in 1920, therefore this was only a temporary situation. Wilson seized the chance to join the Internal Revenue

During Prohibition, organized crime was on the rize. Especially in the city of Chicago, Illinois. This is where the most notorious gangster, Al Capone, rose to power. Al Capone had established himself as Chicago's top criminal boss by 1929, raking in over $60 million a year through gambling, prostitution, and other illicit endeavors. Local and federal authorities repeatedly detained him on suspicion of contempt of court, possession of a concealed weapon, and other offenses, but they were unable to establish a solid enough case against him to bring any charges related to his violent behavior. With the ultimate goal of convicting Al Capone, the Intelligence Unit of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, led by Elmer L. Irey, started to develop tax evasion cases against prominent members of the Chicago Outfit. Ralph Capone was found guilty of tax fraud in April 1930 as a result of their efforts, but the Intelligence Unit lacked sufficient proof to charge his brother Al. Tax authorities in Chicago

The methods used within the context of these instances provide as an example of the accounting, auditing, and investigative abilities necessary in the forensic accounting discipline. These investigations specifically highlight Wilson's ground-breaking and novel methods for financial vouching and tracing, use of handwriting analysis, and outstanding investigative due diligence. Today's forensic accounting combines accounting, auditing, and investigative work, and it is carried out by those who have obtained their Certified Fraud Examiner license. Wilson exhibited all three of these qualities in his work on the two significant investigations he oversaw while serving in the Intelligence Unit. Accounting is used for calculating net income, filing taxes, and registering assets. An example of how accounting is utilized is by tracing and vouching all of Capone's financial records to find his unreported income and to record the serial numbers of the ransom notes. Last but not least, the characteristics of a true investigator include utilizing some originality in interrogation techniques, following up on every lead, and using all legal means at their disposal to bring about justice. The field of forensic accounting, founded by Wilson, is fundamentally characterized by all of these traits. Wilson committed his entire life to defending the interests of the American people, eliminating some of