Agents were also at Keller's sporting goods store, KO Sporting Goods, at 2001 East Moyamensing Ave. where they removed boxes of files and computers with tags that read "IRS criminal investigation evidence tag." Agents were on the scene from both the FBI and U.S. Treasury Department.
IRS Special Agent Shauna M. Frye confirmed that agents from her office were also at the scenes. "We are here on official business," she said.
"Representative Keller has not been invovled in, nor is he aware of, any criminal activity whatsoever," said Keller's attorney, Fortunato N. Perri Jr. "He has fully cooperated with the request for documents and he will continue to in the future."
Perri confirmed that FBI and IRS agents took documents from Keller's political and business offices. "There were specific requests and I don't want to get in to what those requests were," Perri said. Agents did not question Keller and he was not asked to appear before a grand jury.
"It's not our belief at this point that he's the target of any investigation," Perri said. He declined to offer a theory on who might be a target.
Uniformed and plain clothes law enforcement agents were at Keller's 1531 South Second Street office early this morning, witnesses said.
Keller, who represents the 184th district, was elected in 1993 to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The 59-year-old former longshoreman is chairman of the commerce committee, vice chairman of the appropriations committee, and chairman of the Committee on Committees, according to his website.
He also serves on the gaming oversight, labor relations, and urban affairs committees.
Keller has been a leading proponent of dredging the Delaware River to deepen the shipping lanes and sponsored a bill to expand the Port of Philadelphia.
Keller was inducted in 1996 to the Mummers' Fancy Brigade Hall of Fame.
