IRS agents search area tavern

MORROW — Agents from the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division spent part of Tuesday, Sept. 14 searching three properties owned by a former Morrow village councilman and mayor.

IRS agents searched Vic’s Food and Spirits, which is owned by Vic Center, at about 9 a.m. Tuesday as well as two other properties owned by Center, said an employee.

“We had a visit,” said Warren Oliver, the tavern’s bartender. “They took all of our lists, numbers and papers — everything, with them.”

Police Chief Heath Kilburn said he was not notified that the IRS would be conducting a search in Morrow nor was the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

A message seeking comment was left for Center at his home phone number as well as at the tavern.

Craig Casserly, spokesman for the IRS Criminal Investigation Division office in Columbus, declined to comment on Tuesday’s search saying that agents were in Morrow “on official business.”

Casserly said all information on the investigation has been sealed by the U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4504 or erichter@coxohio.com.

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