Three of the First

Hilton Owens, Sr., one of the first African American special agents in the Internal Revenue Service, offers a unique glimpse into the intriguing world of undercover IRS operations. Owens chronicles his story, and those of fellow African American special agents William E. Mannie and Frederick L. Sleet, in Three of the First. The agents’ survival was solely dependant on their wits and, on occasion, their government-issued .38s. The first years were rough, and early undercover operations seemed destined to fail. The agents drove their own cars, carried no fake IDs, and had to rely on winnings at the gambling establishments they infiltrated to fund their shoestring investigations., Despite the obstacles, however, they successfully toppled several large illegal gambling operations. Throughout their careers, the three men faced challenges related to family, politics, and race, but all three advanced up the career ladder, eventually gaining supervisory positions. With their knowledge and experience, they assisted in formalizing undercover operations for the IRS. Three of the First introduces three IRS pioneers who will be remembered as important figures in both black history and government service.