Anthony "Tony" Box
Partner

I bring over 25 years of previous experience as a CPA, federal prosecutor, and FBI agent to helping my clients resolve all kinds of financial controversies, from IRS audits and DOJ enforcement actions to internal investigations and white-collar criminal matters. My recent experience as an AUSA prosecuting tax and other economic crimes gave me a solid understanding of how to navigate government controversies more efficiently. My non-linear path also helps me see things differently and find innovative ways to address and solve problems, whether it involves preventing conflict altogether or negotiating a hand-tailored deal for my client.

Tony Box represents businesses and high-net-worth individuals in all types of civil and criminal tax controversies, white-collar defense cases, regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, and compliance matters focused on preventing government inquiries and minimizing business disruptions. He protects U.S. and international clients spanning several industries, including healthcare, technology, energy, real estate, construction, manufacturing and many more.

Before joining Gray Reed, Tony developed a diverse skill set while serving in a number of public and private sector positions. Most recently, he served as a government trial lawyer and tax coordinator responsible for leading federal tax investigations and prosecutions in the Eastern District of Missouri, as well as other high-profile cases involving white-collar crime, identity theft, illegal guns, drugs and violent crimes.

In addition, Tony previously served as an investigator and prosecutor in the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office where he led the conviction integrity unit and handled many types of investigations involving violent crime, police misconduct and civil rights matters. Tony is also a licensed CPA and spent three years at a Big Four accounting firm overseeing multi-million-dollar financial audits and investigations in the U.S. and abroad.

Tony has an extensive background in federal law enforcement as well. He served as an FBI special agent for nearly a decade, initially as a financial crime investigator handling a broad range of white-collar criminal investigations, and later as a computer forensics examiner directing all FBI media examinations in the Eastern District of Missouri.

Tony’s leadership skills and appreciation for collaboration were honed while serving on active duty in the Army as a tank commander and later as a JAG officer in Iraq. He also served as a senior civilian advisor in Afghanistan. Tony is a graduate of Army Airborne, Air Assault, Armor & JAG basic courses, as well as the JAG advanced course.

Representative Experience
  • Obtained a 100% pre-litigation refund for a client from a Ponzi scheme perpetrator.
  • Obtained a refund of nearly $319,000 from the IRS based on an appeal related to lack of supervisor approval.
  • Filed whistleblower claim on behalf of a client in an Employee Retention Credit (ERC) tax refund case, which was picked up for audit by the IRS.
  • Filed a lawsuit against promoters in a nationwide tax shelter promotion scheme.
  • Filed tax refund litigation in United States District Court.
  • Represented defendants in FBI and IRS criminal investigations.
Thought Leadership / News
January 20, 2024 
 Speeches and Presentations
Strategical Issues in the Evolving ERC Enforcement Arena

ABA Tax Section Midyear Meeting

December 14, 2023 
 Speeches and Presentations
The Government's Crackdown on Tax Fraud Enablers: How Tax Professionals Can Avoid Becoming Criminal Defendants

UT Law CLE’s 71st Annual Taxation Conference

December 2023 
 Speeches and Presentations
What to do When the Government Comes Calling

Texas Society of CPAs Expo

December 4, 2023 
 Blogs
Dollars & Sense
Honors
  • Recognized by the IRS for Outstanding Service and Dedication to a Criminal Investigation (2021)
  • Received U.S. Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Investigation (2005)
Related Employment

Legal Experience

  • Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri (2018 – 2022)
  • Special Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri (2018 – 2019)
  • Assistant Circuit Attorney & Chief Investigator, Circuit Attorney’s Office (2018 – 2019)
  • Associate General Counsel & Deputy Inspector General, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (2014 – 2018)
  • Attorney Advisor, Office of General Counsel, Defense Health Agency (2012 – 2014)

Military Experience

  • Senior Advisor, Ministry of the Interior, Office of the Inspector General, Operation Resolute Support (2016 – 2017)
  • Captain, US Army, Judge Advocate General Corp, Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn  (2010 – 2011)

Congressional & Finance Experience

  • Professional Staff Member, Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq & Afghanistan (2009 – 2011)
  • Senior Manager, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services (2005 – 2008)

Law Enforcement Experience

  • Special Agent – Computer Forensics Examiner, Federal Bureau of Investigation (2002 – 2005)
  • Special Agent - Financial Crime Investigator, Federal Bureau of Investigation (1996 – 2002)
Organizational Involvement

Professional Involvement, Memberships & Affiliations

  • American Bar Association, Tax Section
  • National Bar Association
  • American Association of Attorneys-Certified Public Accountants

Community Involvement, Memberships & Affiliations

  • Military Officers Association of America
  • Harvard Veterans Alumni Organization
Education
  • LL.M. in Taxation, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (2022)
  • M.P.A., Harvard Kennedy School (2008)
  • J.D., Saint Louis University School of Law (2005)
  • B.A., Accounting, Morehouse College (1990)
Bar Admissions
  • Missouri (2006)
  • Texas
Court Admissions
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • United States Tax Court
When I Feel Most At Home
  • Running in races with fun endings – especially the Army Ten Miler, Ragnar and the Napa to Sonoma Wine County Races